Reaction Vs. Response: The Difference of Temperament and Thoughtfulness

Life is a series of interactions with various people at different times. Every day we face new challenges and encounter opportunities that test our balance (emotional and mental) and maturity level. We, humans, are bestowed with a rare gift called ‘free will’—the freedom to react or respond willfully.
Though reaction and response both seem like natural outcomes, their impact on our well-being and relationships can differ. Let’s delve into the concepts of response and reaction, their effect on our lives, and how to manage them.

Defining Response and Reaction

Response: It is a careful and considerate way to reply. Responding to a situation signifies taking deliberate action after thinking and understanding a situation properly. Responding involves wisdom and discretion, exhibiting one’s mental and emotional balance.

Reaction: On the other hand ‘Reaction’ is immediate and impulsive. It lacks reflection and is driven by external triggers. Sometimes, the reactions are so prompt that even the person himself does not know what he is doing or what he is saying.
 

Misunderstanding between the Two Concepts

Generally, people feel that the difference between response and reaction lies in the swiftness of the reply. Reacting fast to a certain situation is considered a sign of intelligence and alertness, whereas responding to a situation implies being manipulative, slow, or passive. But being fast does not mean being effective. Reactions, although swift, are not necessarily always effective or appropriate. On the other hand, responses may have been slower but provided constructive and better solutions.

Problems Reactions Create

Impact on Human Body

Making a habit of giving prompt replies and reacting quickly can be harmful to health. Always being in a reactive mode leads to restlessness and stress. Due to constant pressure, the level of cortisol hormone in the body gets disturbed, which can create high blood pressure, weak immunity, and heart problems. To capture some short-lived praises, the health deal may be costly. Walk slowly but walk steadily so that you can protect yourself as well as others.

Damage to Social Connections

Reactions are responsible not only for spoiling the relationship but also for weakening it. Miscommunicating, giving in to emotional triggers and making hasty decisions, these impulsive reactions lead to conflicts, erode trust, destroy mutual respect and finally harm the relationships.

Broader Societal Issues

Even at the societal level, impulsive reaction deepens the prevailing divisions. Many social platforms are running solely on impulsive reactions. Be it political debates or online discussions, all hinder a meaningful dialogue. In some cases, people with agendas try to hijack the conversation by providing false or fragmented facts and manipulating other impulsive people.
The loud reaction received on any random issue, is also understood as public opinion laying the foundation of the society which does or says things without thinking and calls it ‘in’ or ‘trending’.

Improve Response Rate with Meditation

There are many suggestions, courses, or classes available both online and offline for managing reactions and increasing response rates, eg. the technique of pause and breathe’ (to interrupt the automatic reaction loop by deep breathing), practicing empathy, reflecting on past reactions, and seeking constructive feedback from experts or well-wishers. These practices help individuals up to some extent but shifting the phenomenon of reaction to response cannot be processed in a few classes and sessions. Regular meditation can be a useful tool in improving the response rate. Let’s find out how.

Developing Self-Awareness– Working inside out.

Meditation helps us recognize our triggers and emotional patterns. With regular meditation practice, one can understand their own subtle system and the cause of thoughts generated by reactions. It also helps in rectifying the problems in the related chakra and assists in gaining the ability to pause before acting.

Strengthening Emotional Regulation

Our subtle system has a special channel on the left side commonly called Ida nadi, or the moon channel. This channel takes care of all our emotional problems and strengths. Regular meditation reduces the pressure on the ‘Agya chakra’ and tones down the intensity of emotional impulses. It also helps to rewire the brain, for more controlled responses.

Enhancing Focus and Patience

Meditation is known for improving mindfulness and focus. It helps us to stay in the present and be responsible for our actions. When the chakras are aligned, their qualities automatically manifest to process situations with patience, focus and clarity.(Start meditation with Kundalini Awakening and Self Realization)

Conclusion

Choosing a response instead of a reaction in life is the first step towards maturity and strong relationships. The positivity of ‘Response’ creates self-growth, health improvement, and harmony, which is the slow but steady healing for a fast-paced life. With meditation, we can gradually train our minds to have a balanced and thoughtful response. 
Embrace the power of response—a gift that can be harnessed through meditation even if you were not born with it—and create an environment of positive influence for those around you.

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