Reducing Reaction

In yogic philosophy it is considered that when you react you are not in the neutral space. To respond is different from reaction - reaction is that flurry of retort to something that pops across your field of vision, your path or in any way connects with you. Reactions are born of fear - they include things like anger, frustration, fear. Reacting raises your blood pressure, it's like a surge of energy that swooshes up and out of you like a huge wave.

And reaction is everyday. It's everything that interrupts us on our own ego-centered path of existence - the car that cuts you off, the nasty station attendant, the person who yells at you or the one who ignores you - - all around are a million and one instances and opportunities to react. Or respond.

Response is different. It is not a gutwrenching response born of fear, but more often thought out, it's the choice of how we want to respond and it requires forethought, awareness and consciousness.

So there's the choice we have - to react or respond and it's up to choose in every situation. Here's a little tool...

Each and every time something crosses your path that causes (or even begins to cause) some kind of reaction in you (in thought, word or deed), consider that little occurrence as a kind of reminder. Every time you get "reminded" send blessings, love or angels to the situation - whatever it is.

This exercise teaches alot of things - neutrality, balance, objectivity, patience, kindness, etc. But most of all it teaches us the difference between reaction and response and the biggest difference between them - reaction is born of instinct, human animal, while response is born of human spirit, in one you are completely controlled by animal instinct and the other you are in complete control.

Try it for a day (or even a few hours). It is an amazing tool for self-transformation.

Blessings.
Darshan



(c) 2010 Darshan F Jessop