BETTER TO ACT THAN REACT

[CROWN COUNCIL]

There is a natural tendency to respond to someone with the same tone, volume and temperament as the person who just addressed you.   An example of this would be when someone gets criticized or is the target of an insulting remark and without pausing to think, he/she responds to the attack with the same voice tone and temperament it was given.   Then it takes a couple of hours or days to recover and let things get back to normal.   In retrospect, the person who was the subject of the attack wonders if he/she could have chosen to respond in a more appropriate way. 

 

The way to avoid having this experience is to pause, think and respond in a positive way.  When you do, you will experience a tremendous shift in the outcome.  Things will be so much better and usually you will get a positive response from those you are dealing with. Perhaps the best part is that you will no longer feel the stress and loss of energy that was caused by your previous behaviors. In addition, simple, everyday interactions and conversations will go better.  You will also feel a difference in how you are perceived.

 

All you have to do is think before you speak.  Simply checking in with yourself and asking “Am I responding or just reacting?”  This is the easiest way to change your behavior from destructive to constructive.  This may take a little practice but you will get a warm feeling inside you when you are able to act rationally rather than to react.

 

Gregory B. Anderson–director