You did the thing.
You followed the rules.
You were patient. Reasonable. Mature.
And then… it still didn’t work.
Unacceptable.
This is usually when our brain says:
“Excuse me??? I did everything right.”
Welcome to the moment where entitlement, accountability, and emotional maturity all show up at the same time; and only one of them is actually helpful.
Here’s what usually happens:
Event → Reaction → Regret
But what should happen is this:
Event → Pause → Response
That pause….even a few seconds….is the most important part of emotional regulation. It’s the space between what happens to us and what we do about it.
That tiny gap is where:
Growth lives
Accountability shows up
You don’t send the text you’ll regret
You realize, “Oh… I actually have a choice here.”
The pause is not passive. It’s powerful.
Most of us quietly believe effort is a contract.
Like:
“If I show up, the outcome should cooperate.”
“If I’m responsible, this should be easier.”
“If I’ve been patient long enough, life should stop testing me.”
Life did not sign that agreement.
That belief…..that things should go our way……is entitlement in comfy clothes. Very human. Not helpful.
Accountability doesn’t live in the event.
It doesn’t live in the reaction either.
It lives in the pause.
That’s the moment you stop and think:
“What part of this is mine?”
“What’s actually within my control?”
“How do I want to show up right now?”
Not in a self-blaming way. In a grounded, grown-up way.
You cannot control:
Other people
Systems
Timelines
That one person who still hasn’t replied
You can control:
Your response
Your tone
Whether you let this ruin your whole day
Choosing a response instead of reacting is a skill. And like all skills, it gets better with practice (and worse when you’re hungry or tired).
That uncomfortable feeling? That’s information.
It usually points to:
An expectation that needs adjusting
A boundary that wasn’t clear
A habit that needs updating
The pause gives you just enough space to learn from it — instead of repeating it.
When emotions spike, the nervous system often takes over before logic gets a vote.
Many people build small rituals to help create that pause……deep breathing, stepping outside, quiet time, or intentional wellness routines. For some, hemp-derived products are part of that reset.
Not to escape the moment.
Not to numb it.
Just to slow things down enough to choose a response instead of reacting on impulse.
Wellness isn’t about avoidance.
It’s about creating space.
Life will keep throwing curveballs. That’s guaranteed.
The real work isn’t controlling the event; it’s honoring the pause between the event and your response.
That’s where accountability lives.
That’s where growth happens.
That’s where you surprise yourself in a good way.
So next time things don’t go your way: pause.
Even briefly.
That space? That’s the whole point.
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