We've all been there…

A tough morning.

A short comment from a loved one.

A day at work that just doesn't go as planned.

Stress creeps in. Tempers flare. And before you know it, you're reacting in ways you wish you hadn't.

But what if there were a better way?

What if—in just 3 seconds—you could pause the spiral and reset your entire day?

Let's talk about the power of one small pause.

Captain Charlie Plumb, a Navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, was shot down just days before returning home. He spent nearly six years—2,103 days—as a prisoner of war in an 8-by-8-foot cell.

His body was confined… but his spirit was not.

"Though I couldn't control my circumstances, I had absolute control over my response to those circumstances," Charlie said.

That lesson carried him through years of torture—and it can carry us through our everyday storms. The truth is:

No one can "make you" feel anything.

We get to decide how we respond.

Strategy for the Week: The 3-Second Reset Here's a simple, life-changing habit to start using today:

Pause – Before reacting, count to 3.

Breathe – Take a deep breath. Let your body catch up.

Decide – Ask yourself, "What outcome do I really want here?" This tiny shift builds emotional strength—and over time, it builds homes filled with peace, resilience, and purpose.

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response." – Viktor E. Frankl

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." – Eleanor Roosevelt

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." – William James

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." – Jim Rohn

Every response is a brick in the legacy you're building—at home, at work, and in your community. The way we react in life's small moments shapes the big picture.

So next time tension rises, remember…

You hold the thermostat.

You choose the temperature of your day.