Do You Respond To Life Or React To It?

In life there is a big difference between reacting and responding to life.

When someone tells you something along the lines of “you no longer work for this company,” you have two choices; to react, or respond.

If you were to react to this situation, it would probably involve blowing up at your now former boss screaming something along the lines of “You are firing ME!?  After all I’ve done for this company!  This company won’t survive without me!  I have practically held this company together myself for years!”  Which, certainly does not help the situation one bit.

Your other choice is to respond to the situation.  If you were to respond you would find the positive in the situation.  You would fine or create new opportunities that were not there before.  Often times a disgruntled former employee finally hits a threshold and says “I’ve had it!”, “I’m going to be the boss now!”

Now instead of reacting (which is negative), the response (which is positive) becomes the start of a new business and new opportunites, not only for that individual but many others as well.

So the question is:  Do you respond to life, or react to it?

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Comments

4 Responses to “Do You Respond To Life Or React To It?”

  1. Editor on February 24th, 2010 5:12 am

    Good stuff Steve. I hate to be one step behind. I would much rather lead.

  2. Andres on February 24th, 2010 3:50 pm

    Wise words, Steve. The challenge for me is how to identify when the reactive mode is on, so I can control how I feel and how I respond after that. Cool heads should prevail. Thanks for this wonderful message.

  3. Stephen Hilgart on February 24th, 2010 9:09 pm

    To identify that reactive mode, or any mode, you have to be sensitive to your mental state. How are you feeling right now? Stressed? Frisky? Relaxed? Excited? The state you are in will determine the response you give. Control your state, control your response. When you get good at controlling your state, you will automatically respond to life instead of react to it!

  4. Stephen Hilgart on February 24th, 2010 9:10 pm

    Thanks!

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