Silence, Eye Contact and Pausing: Tips for Responding to Provocation

Silence after insult. When someone tries to

provoke you, do not respond. Your silence will

eat at their ego more than any comeback ever

could. The three-second eye contact rule. Hold

your eye contact for exactly three seconds when

someone challenges you. Not more, not less.

It signals dominance without being aggressive.

Never explain twice. Repeat yourself once, and

if they ask again, simply say, "As I mentioned

earlier." It sets the boundaries really fast.

The power of pause. AKA thinking before you

speak. I feel like so many women struggle with

this because we have a voice and we have so

much to say. However, before answering, pause

for two seconds. It gives your words more weight

and makes people listen more closely. Also gives

you time to really think about what you want

to say thoroughly. The Hebrew word for react

is "anah," which comes from the root "poor,"

which is "ani." Hebrew wisdom teaches that reactive

behavior vibrates on the same frequency as poverty.

But when we pause, choose to respond from fullness,

we feel rich. And that's how the creator operates.

We should always operate, or at least try to

operate, the same way.