Communicate with more clarity and authority. I have a friend who is a self-described “blurter.” “I’m like a gumball machine — whatever pops in my head comes out of my mouth,” she says. I have several clients who share a similar affliction, and to be honest I have been known to blurt too at times.

I am working to stop, pause, and think before I speak out. When I am acting as if everything is a 9-1-1, I am more likely to speak without thinking. When I feel the adrenaline pumping, I try to remember to take the pause that refreshes.

I stop, take a good cleansing breath, feel my feet on the floor, and hear the sounds around me. This pause helps me become present and grounded, and I am less likely to blurt out.

Alcoholics Anonymous has some wonderful sayings. One of my favorites is: Think before you speak.

T = Thoughtful
H = Honest
I = Intelligent
N = Necessary
K = Kind