Thinking Before Acting
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Learning Objectives
- 1Stop for a moment
- 2Notice how I feel
- 3Make a safer or kinder choice before I act
Mini Lesson
Sometimes our bodies want to move fast before our brains have finished thinking. When we slow down for a moment, we can make a better choice.
Why stop first?
- Fast actions can lead to hurt feelings, broken rules, or unsafe choices.
- A short pause gives your brain time to catch up.
- Stopping first is a smart way to show self-control.
The 4 steps
- Think — stop your body and take a breath.
- Feel — notice your feeling, like angry, excited, worried, or upset.
- Decide — choose the safest and kindest action.
- Act — do the good choice you picked.
What helps?
- You can whisper, "Stop and think."
- You can count to three or take one slow breath.
- You can ask, "Is this safe? Is this kind?"
Diagram: A small pause gives your brain time to think before your body acts.
Diagram: Good choices often follow the same order: think, feel, decide, then act.
Ask yourself: "Did I stop, think, and choose a safe action first?
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