Reacting v Responding

Certain behavioral patterns will lead to empowerment and enhance communication and some do not.

Think for a moment about how you interact with others in your day to day communications or, more especially, when you are under stress.  Are you reacting or responding to the other person?

"Re-acting" acting from the past and is inward focused.  When you react, you bring all your filters (emotions, limiting beliefs, patterns) and you project them onto the other person and the conversation.  Reacting is dis-empowering because it has no action, it only expresses your filters (limitations).

Responding is outward focused and is a position that allows you to engage more completely in a conversation.  When you respond, you suspend your old filters and judgments while actively listening.  This creates a level of unprecedented empowerment because you are now in a position to create new options, new opinions, and new learnings.  Suspending your judgment allows you to maintain discernment and create a win-win situation.

Reacting - If you keep doing what you have been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting.

Responding - Acting in the now.

BE Amazing,

-Lane