Responding vs reacting is a mindfulness approach to stress reduction and resilience. We spend much of our time simply reacting to the various stimuli that we encounter every day. It is possible to change this habitual pattern by bringing awareness to that space between stimulus and our reactivity and expanding it with mindfulness so that we can begin to transform the reaction into a response.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. –Victor Frankl
The next time someone does something that leads you to feel reactive, try bringing awareness to the impulse to react. Try to pause and take a few slow, deep breaths. Expand the mindful awareness with mindfulness by continuing to notice the habitual pattern of reactivity and making a mindful decision to choose responding vs reacting. Now embrace the freedom to choose your response.
When we react, it can lead to a greater feeling of internal stress. It may also strain our relationships with others in our personal or work lives. Responding can help us to experience decreased stress and healthier relationships.
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness teacher, coach, and therapist teaching meditation for healing, creativity, and resilience. To learn more about mindfulness, register for the MBSR online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course.