You are busy. You are stressed out. You are tired. You are hungry. Someone says something you weren’t expecting and are too frustrated to think about. BAM. You overreact.
It’s easy to react, but nearly impossible to take it back.
Reactions are key in how you are perceived by others. Your words, body language, and even your breathing are all accounted for whilst being interrupted. Your reactions happen so naturally and fast, that often you do or say something you truly do not mean. Yet the deed is done, and boy after someone overreacts it is hard to forget.
This world now moves so fast that we have instant everything. We expect things to be instant. For example, when our internet doesn’t download a page in a second we are frustrated by the slowness. In the same token when speaking to someone we expect an immediate answer.
Slow down, take a moment. Think before you speak, and act, and allow others the same courtesy. BAM. Your much happier, with yourself and others.
Kate, this lesson is hard to learn. I often struggle with a couple things regarding my immediate reactions...
ReplyDeleteFirst, what if that immediate reaction is the truest expression of how I am feeling at that moment... would I br doing myself a disservice by holding it in?
Second, I dont like reacting immediately, if it is a negative reaction, most importantly if something comes out of my mouth that is disrespectful of someone else. However, I like reacting because it makes me feel alive.
I often struggle imternally with wanting to appear more put together than I actually am. I aspire to be more put together, which should probably include not reacting right away, but there are certain instances that I cant help it.
I feel like im in the phase of 'growing up' and that part of growing up is acting more together, which would include teaching myself not to react. I dont know tho... part if me likes not giving a fuck? (See, I had to go and throw one curseword in there) anyways, this is a convoluted battle I have with myself on what seems to be a daily basis, and I thought I would share :)
Thank you for your beautiful words, and gorgeous addition to my life! Love love love