Floods in Germany and Austria, war in Ukraine, conflict in Gaza, student protests, the nitrogen crisis, climate change, European elections... A lot has been happening lately that stirs up a wide range of emotions.

It seems like we are increasingly reacting out of those emotions, often with more anger, indignation, misunderstanding, and sometimes even rage and escalation.

What if there was another way to handle everything happening in life and your life? A way that isn’t based on an immediate emotional reaction but on a conscious response?

The distinction between 'reaction' and 'response' is crucial. A reaction may quickly lead you to repeat familiar patterns that lead you, if you're honest, to already known outcomes. Do you, for example, immediately jump to indignation or defense? Do you fully indulge in your judgment of 'those politicians', or do you choose to take a step back and find some stillness within yourself? In other words, do you choose the conscious response? By filtering out the noise and consciously considering what the situation asks of you, you decide what to give less attention to and set aside so that you can bring something else to the forefront.

The following simple six-step process can help you move from 'reaction' to 'response':

1.      Stop or slow down and find some stillness within yourself.

2.      What do you feel or perceive? Simply let it be.

3.      What is the underlying message in the situation, or what does the situation want to tell you? What does it want you to know?

4.      Who are you being asked to be in this? Which role or qualities can you bring more to the forefront? How are you invited to show up?

5.      Who do you choose to be?

6.      And from there, what is the first action in response to what is happening?

Observe yourself this week and become aware of when you step into a habitual reaction pattern. No judgment, just observation. Then, refer to these six questions and see what they bring you when you create a conscious response. What changes or shifts within yourself and in your surroundings?

I wish you much joy in your discoveries!