Responding vs. Reacting

It happens to the best of us. Someone says something that triggers you. It’s like they’ve got your battleship’s coordinates. Boom!  

Whilst the timber is splintering, you have the opportunity to react with anger or silence—or in a number of other ways.  

But what happens if you just notice the anger building? How does it feel in your body? What if you breathe deeply, pausing before you respond? What if now is a good time to take a walk around the block the conversation continues? 

We can get curious about ourselves and others. What a gift lies in the space between a stimulus and a response. By pausing, we invite a multitude of possibilities. I explore this sacred space in a piece titled, “Space”. In this piece I recount a time when I broke something special to my husband; his response made all the difference. 

Wishing you space and grace this holiday season.