Life is constantly happening all around us. If we’re on autopilot, we react to this event, react to that comment, react to this person, to that experience, react to the thoughts it stimulates, react to the emotions it stirs up. This can feel like being the ball in a pinball game- being bounced around, out of control, shot forth from trigger to trigger, ricocheting off one obstacle after another.
Another possibility is to choose how I respond. If my friend gets upset that I didn’t call, I don’t need to react by defending myself, or get sucked into the energy of upset or guilt. I can choose my response, ask myself “Okay, how do I want to be with this? What is truly in the highest? An apology? Some boundary setting? Compassionate listening?” Let me respond in that way that is most in alignment for me.
Or I could opt out. Perhaps this is another episode of the drama queen making a big thing of nothing. In that case, it could be best to not respond, to just let it blow over, and maybe talk about it later, when the emotion subsides.
React, Respond, or Opt out. We do have a choice.
Filed under: Personal Growth, react vs. respond, staying centered, triggers | Tagged: choosing a response, reactivity, triggers
