Respond, Don’t React!


Respond, don’t react is a useful mantra (a living reminder) I teach at the start of my stress management classes. Under stress we tend to be in some level of survival mode. The primary two emotions under stress are anger (fight) and fear (flight). While these emotions may be beneficial for short-term survival from physical stress, they can cause BIG problems for long-term implications. Many reactions made under the pitch of anger, fear or both often necessitate a fair amount of “clean-up” afterwards (e.g., saying something we regret). While it may seem natural to “react” to stress at the time, a prudent approach is always best. In these times of economic uncertainty “responses” to stress are surely needed. Responding is a skill (like golf or swimming). Practice will serve you well.

• Stress Tip for the Day:
The next time you find yourself getting frustrated about something that didn’t go as planned, step outside of yourself (also called “ego detachment”) to form an appropriate response, rather than possibly regretting a reaction you made in haste. Keep working on this until it becomes second nature: The benefits are immeasurable. Respond, don’t react.

• Website Links Worth Noting:
http://www.awakeningearth.com/writing-mainmenu-82/living-universe

• Highly Recommended Book Worth Reading:
A good friend of mine (thanks Llyn) put me in touch with one of her friends who happened to be in Boulder last night for an event. We sat down over dinner before he gave an evening presentation based on his best selling books, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of The United States. John Perkins writes extremely well and his story is one that may interest you. I found it fascinating. Perhaps most fascinating is his interest in shamanism (learned in Ecuador when he nearly died as a Peace Corp voluteer, was healed and the repayment was, you guessed it: learn to become a shaman). He “came out” as and EHM after 9/11 and is now one of the biggest advocates for sustainable living.

• Photo of the Day:
I just returned from a trip to St. Lucia where I happened to be very lucky to catch this photo of a humming bird that is looking directly at me, suspended in mid air. I call this guy the “Jedi Ninja humming bird.” On second thought, he could have been flirting with me with his forhead colors.

• Quote for the Day:

“If you get angry, count to ten. If you get really angry, count to 100.”
—Thomas Jefferson

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Brian Luke Seaward

Author Brian Luke Seaward

More posts by Brian Luke Seaward

Join the discussion One Comment

  • Thanks for creating this blog Luke. Your posts have been outstanding and of great value. As usual, I love the photos too. I will be posting the link on my own blogs.

    Bill McPeck

Leave a Reply