Most of us don't react because we're careless or unskilled.We react because our nervous system takes over before our values get a chance to speak.Pause & Respond was written to help you reclaim that space-the space where choice, clarity, and self-trust live. This book isn't about becoming calm all the time. It's about learning how to come back when you don't.- Josua Rine, LPC, CAADCDo you ever say things you don't mean, shut down when emotions rise, or replay conversations long after they're over?Pause & Respond offers a clear, practical framework for breaking reactive patterns and responding with intention-even under pressure. Grounded in real-world clinical insight and everyday experience, this book walks you through eight core pillars that help you: Understand why your body reacts before your mindInterrupt mental loops and emotional escalationStay aligned in relationships when emotions are highRepair after reactivity without shameBuild lasting self-trust through intentional responsesThis is not a book about suppressing emotions or "staying calm."It's about learning how to pause, listen, and choose responses you can stand behind-again and again.Whether you're navigating relationships, recovery, stress, or personal growth, Pause & Respond gives you the tools to move from reactivity to clarity, one moment at a time