In establishing causation in the law, the “but for” cause of an event is the act responsible for the outcome.  As all law students recall, “but for” X, the event would not have occurred.

This test is use to assign liability or culpability.

In Jurisight, the “But For” Pause is the intentional delay that you insert between an event and your response. 

You may CHOOSE to pause for any of a variety of reasons.  Some include:

1. 1.* You are becoming agitated and reactionary.
   
   

2. 2.* A person you are interacting with is becoming agitated and reactionary.
   
   

3. 3.* You are not sure what to do or say.
   
   

Mindfulness practices involve cultivating the wisdom of knowing when to pause.  By deliberately choosing to pause, rather than engage in an explicit response, you disrupt the automatic cycle that is in motion.  Doing so, you create the space for people to see more clearly what is arising in their minds and feeling what is arising in their bodies. 

This insight can be very helpful in being able to step out of the reactivity and more meaningfully participate in what is actually taking place. 

The Jurisight term, Res Ipsa Loquitur develops further this concept and practice.