October 23, 2017
From day to day each of us encounter various situations. These situations include events, circumstances, even people that are available for us to react to. Thus far, It is important to understand that in this paradigm each of the referred to situations are neutral. It is only when you or I choose to react in either positive or negative way, that any meaning is given to the situation. The focus here is the effect of a negative reaction in our lives.
Much ado about nothing, you may ask? Think back to the last time you felt threatened. It could be a near collision between cars, a nasty confrontation with another person, or what you thought of as a significant rejection of your personhood. How did your body and mind respond to this threatening situation? Did you find yourself feeling anxious, an increase in anxiety, or maybe fear? These reactions can range from mild irritation to outright rage. Why does this occur? Generally, it is our reaction to the fear of losing control or a becoming a “victim.” Here’s an example; It’s the night of the homecoming football game. The football field has no interest in the outcome. On each side of the football are two teams. At the games end your team loses. The fans on the other side of the stadium are cheering, while you and your friends are upset at the loss. Both sides saw the same game, but with different reactions.
Let’s extend this story to you engaging in an argument with your significant other, let’s say it’s over where to spend the next holiday. The discussion becomes heated. The intensity level increases until one of you walks out the door in anger. Think about the reaction. At what point in the interaction did you allow the situation to take control of you, rather than your being in control of the situation? How did this happen? Can these kind of reactions be avoided?
The good news is this, YES, you can avoid these reactions. Of course, there is a "Bad News" side as well. To apply a solution will require patience and practice. My recommended approach is based on the old railroad safety slogan: STOP - LOOK - LISTEN. At the earliest sign of a potentially negative situation, STOP, take a moment before doing anything. Once you sense that you can examine the dynamics of the situation, LOOK at what's going on between yourself and the situation. Then, and only then, it's time to take action. That action is to LISTEN to what your creative thinking is telling you is the just reaction.
These observations on how you interact with your world is what Changing Your Mind is all about; Your search for understanding how your mind works. Among the benefits of this search is finding yourself living a life of contentment.
These life choices will increase your ability to take charge of your life. This results in ways that will leave you open to accepting and resolving those negative situations you encounter in your life.
Back to ChangingYourMindFrom day to day each of us encounter various situations. These situations include events, circumstances, even people that are available for us to react to. Thus far, It is important to understand that in this paradigm each of the referred to situations are neutral. It is only when you or I choose to react in either positive or negative way, that any meaning is given to the situation. The focus here is the effect of a negative reaction in our lives.
Much ado about nothing, you may ask? Think back to the last time you felt threatened. It could be a near collision between cars, a nasty confrontation with another person, or what you thought of as a significant rejection of your personhood. How did your body and mind respond to this threatening situation? Did you find yourself feeling anxious, an increase in anxiety, or maybe fear? These reactions can range from mild irritation to outright rage. Why does this occur? Generally, it is our reaction to the fear of losing control or a becoming a “victim.” Here’s an example; It’s the night of the homecoming football game. The football field has no interest in the outcome. On each side of the football are two teams. At the games end your team loses. The fans on the other side of the stadium are cheering, while you and your friends are upset at the loss. Both sides saw the same game, but with different reactions.
Let’s extend this story to you engaging in an argument with your significant other, let’s say it’s over where to spend the next holiday. The discussion becomes heated. The intensity level increases until one of you walks out the door in anger. Think about the reaction. At what point in the interaction did you allow the situation to take control of you, rather than your being in control of the situation? How did this happen? Can these kind of reactions be avoided?
The good news is this, YES, you can avoid these reactions. Of course, there is a "Bad News" side as well. To apply a solution will require patience and practice. My recommended approach is based on the old railroad safety slogan: STOP - LOOK - LISTEN. At the earliest sign of a potentially negative situation, STOP, take a moment before doing anything. Once you sense that you can examine the dynamics of the situation, LOOK at what's going on between yourself and the situation. Then, and only then, it's time to take action. That action is to LISTEN to what your creative thinking is telling you is the just reaction.
These observations on how you interact with your world is what Changing Your Mind is all about; Your search for understanding how your mind works. Among the benefits of this search is finding yourself living a life of contentment.
These life choices will increase your ability to take charge of your life. This results in ways that will leave you open to accepting and resolving those negative situations you encounter in your life.
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