PABLO
PABLO: A Trail Companion for Life’s Tough Moments
Pause. Accept. Breathe. Listen. Own.
Out on the trail or in the thick of life, the ground can shift beneath us. One moment we’re moving with grace, the next we’re caught in an emotional landslide. A reaction, a story, a past wound triggered. Whether you’re running an ultra-marathon, navigating sobriety, parenting through chaos, or simply living this wild human experience, you’ve likely felt that snap, the break in connection, the tightening in the chest, the inner storm.
That’s why I carry a simple five-letter practice in my back pocket — PABLO.
No, not a person. Not a saint. Not even an acronym I thought much of at first. But over time, this five-step mindfulness method has saved relationships, guided clients, and brought me back to presence more times than I can count. It works whether I’m in the massage room, on the bike, or sitting with someone who just needs to be heard.
Here’s how it goes:
P is for Pause
The first step is always to pause. Not forever, just for a breath. Just long enough to interrupt the reactive loop. Pause before speaking. Pause before deciding. Pause before letting your old programming grab the wheel.
It’s the most radical thing you can do in a world obsessed with speed: to stop.
A is for Accept
Acceptance isn’t approval. It’s not saying, “I like this.” It’s saying, “This is happening.” It’s a surrender of resistance, not of power. When we accept what is — whether it’s pain in the hamstring, an unexpected storm, or a wave of grief, we make space for movement. Denial holds us stuck; acceptance opens a doorway.
B is for Breathe
Simple, but not easy. The breath is our portal back to the body. One conscious inhale can turn the volume down on a racing mind. A long exhale tells the nervous system, “You’re safe now.” If you’re a runner, cyclist, or practitioner of any kind, you know breath is everything. The same goes for emotional terrain.
We come back through breath.
L is for Listen
This is the heart of it all.
Listen, not to your phone, not to your inner critic, not even to fix or figure anything out. Listen with presence. Listen inward: What’s alive in me right now? A tightness? A story? A longing? A boundary being crossed? A truth rising?
Then listen outward: What is this moment asking of me?
When we listen deeply, without judgment, without rushing to “do” we unlock wisdom. We become attuned, not just to others, but to our own inner landscape. In a world of noise, deep listening is revolutionary.
As a bodyworker, I’ve learned to listen with my hands. As a recovering perfectionist and seeker, I’ve learned to listen with my whole being. And when I do, life becomes less about control and more about flow. This is how we love better. Lead better. Live better.
O is for Own
After all that …comes choice.
Own your next step. Not from guilt. Not from fear. From clarity. From grounded awareness. Maybe you speak up. Maybe you step back. Maybe you offer forgiveness, or hold a firm line. But you own your response. That’s where power lives, not in controlling the world, but in choosing how you meet it.
And when we own our part, especially after listening, we lead with integrity. We move forward in alignment, not reaction.
Why PABLO Works (Even When Life Doesn’t)
PABLO doesn’t fix everything. But it softens things. It builds resilience. It creates micro-moments of clarity in the chaos.
It’s helped me sit with discomfort rather than escape it.
It’s helped clients transition out of pain, both physical and emotional.
It’s helped athletes reconnect with breath on mile 47.
Most of all, it’s helped me return to myself, again and again.
And it’s portable. No app needed. No mat or guru or subscription. Just your breath. Your awareness. Your willingness to listen.
Practice It Now
Next time you feel overwhelmed, triggered, reactive, hijacked, try this:
Pause — Put down the phone, the need to respond, the defense.
Accept — Say inwardly, “This is what’s here.”
Breathe — One long inhale. One longer exhale.
Listen — To your body. To what’s unspoken.
Own — Your next move, aligned with truth.
You can even whisper it like a mantra: Pause. Accept. Breathe. Listen. Own.
PABLO