Responding vs. Reacting

There are many documented benefits to meditation but perhaps one of the greatest benefits is that it helps you to pause. 

Pausing supports responding
from awareness
instead of reacting from emotion.

There are times when quickly reacting to a situation is appropriate and even needed such as when you or someone else is in harm’s way. However, I am talking about responding vs. reacting during those every day, regular interactions where our safety isn’t compromised.

For example, have you ever been patiently waiting your turn to merge onto an exit ramp and someone drives up to the front of the line bypassing 30 or 40 cars, cuts in front and drives up the ramp?  Do you react by getting angry, yelling at the person from your car or maybe even resorting to some well chosen obscenity or finger gesture? How about when someone sends you a text that really irritates you. Do you react by instantly sending a maybe veiled but not so kind comeback? (I have to admit, I’ve done that at one time or another!) THAT’s reacting.

Responding on the other hand, involves pausing. Pausing is taking a moment to process the situation or recognize how you might be getting triggered or taking things personally and then more calmly choosing a more measured action.  Maybe that action is to just simply accept that sometimes other people do things on the expressway that don’t feel fair or to recognize that tones in texts may be unintended and so, instead of sending a quick comeback, responding back with a neutral, clarifying question. 

Meditation creates changes within us that, over time, help us to more automatically respond more and react less. This can support emotional intelligence and maturity, greater feelings of calmness during times of adversity, solutions that can benefit all involved and even better relationships with others. It’s kind of a hidden but amazing benefit of meditation!