How to bring awareness to respond vs. react

Do some things set you off and then you wonder why you reacted the way you did? There is no warning, you react. You likely didn’t notice you were triggered.

You promise yourself you won’t do that again, and then the right situation comes up and you have that same negative reaction.

To recognize that a specific type of situation acts as a trigger for you, the first step is awareness.

To become aware you need to slow down, observe, and develop curiosity and kindness towards yourself.

The process of becoming more aware may also include going places that may feel uncomfortable.

When you work on becoming aware of what’s happening for you, you first focus on the details.

You allow yourself to notice what’s happening in the moments before, during, and after your reaction.

You learn to notice what leads you to react versus respond.

The next time you react, ask yourself the following questions –

– What happened?

– What was happening in my body?

– What thoughts were going through my mind?

– What emotions were present?

Write down your answers.

Then repeat the process the next time you react.