⏳ 3 Instant Solutions to Impulses

April 11, 2025

Hello, my Friends!

Welcome to the Mindset Reset - a moment to refocus at the end of a hectic week.

📉 Wall Street’s been rattled by ongoing global trade skirmishes, and volatility is hitting levels we haven’t seen since 2008.

🤔 The noise, the fear, and the hype don’t get the final say in your mindset.

🗞️ I created this newsletter to serve entrepreneurs and professionals who want to stay informed about current market trends without getting locked into doom-and-gloom thinking.

🌩️ With volatility spiking and talk of bear markets swirling, it’s easy to let external factors dominate your emotions - and your decisions.

Instead, let’s break free from impulsive reactions by tapping into the “Power of Pause.”

Impulse Reset

Whether you’re about to place a high-risk trade or send a hasty email, building in a mental stop can prevent regret. Think of it as a personal red light - an intentional checkpoint between your urge and your action.

  1. Counting Backward from 10

    • Interrupts your mental autopilot. Research shows that a brief distraction - like counting down - can reduce emotional intensity by up to 20%.

    • How to Do It: Close your eyes, breathe, and count down from 10. By “1,” you’ve created space to think clearly.

  2. Four-Count Inhale (4-7-8 Breathing)

    • Engages your parasympathetic nervous system to lower stress hormones (cortisol) by around 15–20%.

    • How to Do It: Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. If that’s too long at first, start with 4-4-4 (inhale-hold-exhale) and work your way up.

  3. Clench/Unclench Fists

    • A quick surge of muscle tension followed by release signals calm to your brain.

    • How to Do It: Clench fists for five seconds, then release. Repeat a few times, noticing the shift in your physical and mental state.

Stats & Science:

A Frontiers in Psychology study found that pausing for a brief breathing exercise before reacting lowered self-reported emotional distress by 25%.

Research at the University of Michigan shows a 30% drop in impulsive mistakes when people pause just 10–15 seconds before deciding.

The American Psychological Association reports that pausing 5–10 seconds before responding in heated moments leads to more constructive resolutions for 70% of individuals.

Neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor notes that emotions physically last about 90 seconds - after that, it’s your thoughts perpetuating the feeling. A pause breaks this cycle, reducing the chance of impulsive missteps.

Pausing Muscle:

  • Practice Micro-Pauses: Schedule mini-stops before hitting “send,” picking up a call, or turning on the TV. These moments build your pause reflex for higher-stakes situations.

  • Set Reminders: Stick a note that says “Pause” on your computer monitor, desk, or fridge.

  • Celebrate: Every time you successfully pause, mentally acknowledge it. Small wins accumulate into a robust habit.

Navigating choppy markets or stressful professional demands, give yourself that moment to breathe, reflect, and choose.

Market Rundown

Markets ended the day in a holding pattern after a midweek squeeze began to fade.

Volatility is at record highs we’ve not seen since 2008, prompting renewed talk of bear-market conditions.

Could it be that we’ve been in one all year? That’s the question on everyone’s mind, and it’s one we’ll keep exploring together.

Here’s the rundown of this weeks events:

  • Stocks Rally to Close Turbulent Week:
    U.S. markets ended higher Friday, despite volatile swings caused by escalating U.S.-China trade tensions.

  • Fed’s Reassurance Boosts Investor Confidence:
    Boston Fed President Susan Collins assured markets the Federal Reserve stands ready to maintain financial stability amid ongoing uncertainty.

  • Trade War Heats Up - Tariffs Hit 145%:
    Beijing responded forcefully to President Trump’s tariff hike, pushing effective U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports to their highest level, fueling market volatility.

  • Nasdaq & S&P 500 on Track for Best Week Since Nov 2024:
    Despite daily swings, major indices closed strongly, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 set for significant weekly gains.

  • Big Banks Post Solid Earnings, Warn on Economic Outlook:
    JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo all reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings, though cautioned on future growth risks from trade uncertainty.

  • Consumer Inflation Expectations Highest Since 1981:
    Consumer inflation fears surged, hitting 6.7%, a level not seen in decades, driven largely by escalating trade conflicts.

  • Fed Confident Stagflation Can Be Avoided:
    New York Fed President John Williams reassured investors that the economy can avoid a damaging cycle of high inflation and low growth.

  • 📌 Final Market Snapshot:

    • Dow Jones: +558.61 points (+1.41%) to 40,152.27

    • S&P 500: +79.48 points (+1.52%) to 5,347.53

    • Nasdaq Composite: +266.95 points (+1.63%) to 16,654.27

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Stay balanced out there, and remember that a quick pause today can lead to positive outcomes tomorrow.

Share your entrepreneurial journey - just hit “reply” to this email and let’s keep the conversation going on X.

Until next time,
Steve B
Founder, The Daily Impulse

Important Disclaimer:

This newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not offer financial or investment advice. It should not be taken as a recommendation to trade assets or make any financial decisions. Please be cautious and ensure you conduct thorough research or consult with a financial professional before making any investment choices.

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