The following version of the S.T.O.P. practice will help you reclaim your sense of balance and strength to follow through with the task at hand, whether you’re surrounded by strangers or people you know. Again, S.T.O.P. stands for Stop, Take a breath, Observe, and Proceed. Try it now.

  1. Stop: Begin by taking a pause and giving yourself permission to stop what you’re doing. This is your special time to listen in and nurture yourself.
  2. Take a breath: Pay attention to your breath. You may notice that you’re holding your breath or that your breathing is constrained. If so, just let yourself breathe, without forcing it or changing your breath. Gradually, your breath will return and you’ll connect with it more readily. When your breathing begins to feel more natural, normal, and steady, bring your breath into your belly. You may become aware of how your belly expands and contracts, pushing out against your waistline on the inhale and then deflating on the exhale. Take a few belly breaths.
  3. Observe: Acknowledge and allow any and all sensations that are coming up right now in your body. Are you feeling the urge to race out or to stay put? Are you dizzy or light-headed? Are you feeling more connected with your body or less connected? Acknowledge the feelings that your body is sharing with you. By allowing these sensations to surface and run their natural course, you’ll start to settle down and recognize that you have more control than you often think. When you recognize the sensations percolating in your body, you create space for change and a way to work through these sensations, breath by breath, moment to moment.
  4. Proceed: Remember to breathe and return to being fully present in the now. Move gently forward in your day. Be compassionate toward yourself when panicky feelings arise. They’ll come and go, rise and fall, similar to your breath, and to the clouds overhead, and to the ebb and flow of the ocean. S.T.O.P. is your free “time-out” ticket—time for just you, time to observe what’s going on inside, and time to breathe. Your mindful awareness of your breath and your body is exactly where you’ll discover your balance and equilibrium so that you can face the rest of your day with calm and ease.