The Power of the Pause:
The Difference Between Reacting Impulsively
and Responding Rationally
Presented by David Giwerc, MCC,
Founder & President, ADD Coach Academy
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
www.ADDCA.com
Objectives
 Understanding the process of
PAUSING as an ADHD challenge & as a
benefit
 How to identify when to PAUSE
 How integrate PAUSING for individual
progress
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
www.ADDCA.com
What is Pausing?
 Conscious choice
to stop reactive
patterns
 Redirect attention
 Check-in to reflect
 Identifying best
options for
response with
action
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
When you Pause:
 Consciously Witness
objectively
 Present in the
Present with your
Presence
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Impulsivity
Gulp
vs.
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Sip
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II. Current Beliefs about Pausing
 Speed Trap
 The Game show
paradigm
 The first answer wins
the grand prize
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Pausing is a challenge with ADHD:
 Inhibition:
shifting & filtering out
distractions
 Control the
trigger:
react old negative
patterns
Verbal processors:
don’t always
mean what they
say or do:
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Emotional Intelligence begins with a
Pause
Emotional Intelligence is identifying the
emotion as it occurs
Have to pause to notice there is an emotion
Identify the emotion by giving it a name
Naming it diminishes the emotion’s power
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Changing Reactive negative
patterns to rational
Responses
will not occur without a
Pause!
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Learn to be mindful & Pay attention to:
 Body
signals
 Stress,
anxiety &
discomfort
 Locate &
identify the
feeling,
emotion,
belief,
thought.
 Give it a
name.
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Cultivating your Inner Witness
The Filtering Process
 Pause
 Pinpoint
 Pay attention  Pursue
 Process
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 Proactive
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Responding is proactive.
Pause, think and ask:
 What am I paying
attention to? Name
it.
 How is it serving
me right now?
 What is the best
use of your time
right now?
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Pausing creates an Intention of:
choosing one star to focus on
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Piece
Vs.
Peace
Paying attention to ONE PIECE at one time gives me PEACE all the time
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011
Benefits of Pausing:
 Promotes mindfulness
 Identifies talents &
success
 Improves processing
 Enhances creativity
 Reduces impulsivity-better choices
 Creates more peace &
inner calm
 Improves Awareness
of beliefs/patterns
ADD Coach Academy, www.ADDCA.com
Copyright, ADDCA, 2011