Page 21 - Relationships101 A Guide To Building Healthy Relationships Final 1

3. Do not react without being aware

Be completely aware of the situation before reacting. You may not be able to do a thorough analysis, but
it is still important for you to be aware of all the elements involved.

4. Do not react when you are angry

Anger is an extremely powerful emotion. Therefore, you should avoid reacting if you are angry. It
usually clouds your ability to make responsible decisions. In most cases, the individual ends up
regretting the reaction later.

5. Do not react when you do not need to

Sometimes choosing not to react is a reaction in itself. You need not react to every situation. Some
things are just for your information and can be ignored. If you choose to react even in such scenarios,
you are likely to end up making a fool of yourself.

React vs. Respond: Which is better?

Now that we have understood the difference, the obvious question that comes to our mind is which one
is better. Should I react or respond, what is a better option? This question becomes even more
challenging because a reaction and response appear very similar in nature but there is a difference.

However, the two feel extremely different. For instance, because the reaction is instantaneous, it barely
has any feeling associated with it. Reactions are driven by your belief. But these beliefs are not always
based on logic. Sometimes it is just heresy, prejudice and an underlying assumption that fuel a reaction.
Therefore, it is dangerous. Simply put, the react vs. respond debate does tilt in favor of responding.

Response takes input from our consciousness. This means that it takes into consideration situations and
implications that may not be a priority for the mind. There is a whole process involved in identifying the
logically correct response for a situation. Of course, the process takes time, but it yields extremely
positive results as well. Teaching the mind to apply logical reasoning to identify the solution of each
situation will only strengthen its ability to think.

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