Reaction vs. Response
We live in a world that moves fast. The to-do list is never done, the inbox keeps There’s a subtle but powerful difference between reacting and responding. I’ve touched on this in recent Mindful Moments, and a few of you reached out asking for more—how do we actually practice this in a way that supports rather than sabotages us?
It all comes back to conscious awareness.
Yes, I say that a lot—for good reason. When we’re aware of our energy, our words, our intentions, and our inner landscape, everything changes. Awareness becomes our compass. It helps us choose how we want to show up, even in the messy moments, especially in the messy moments.
A reaction is quick, automatic, and often charged.
It comes from our survival brain, the ancient wiring designed to protect us from real danger—like saber-toothed tigers. But our brain hasn’t quite evolved to differentiate between an actual life-or-death threat and a heated email from a client or a tense conversation with our boss.
So, it kicks into fight, flight, freeze—or fawn. (Yes, fawning is a trauma response—we’ll talk more about that in an upcoming Mindful Moments.)
Reacting often leaves us feeling regretful or drained. It can damage relationships, erode trust, and take us further away from who we want to be as leaders, partners, and people.
A response, on the other hand, is conscious. It’s measured.
It’s the pause that gives us power. A response says: “I’m aware of what’s happening, and I’m choosing how to meet this moment.”
It might look like:
Taking a few deep breaths before speaking
Counting to three to interrupt the urgency
Saying, “I want to give this some thought and get back to you with a clear mind.
Or even walking away—not in a huff, but with intention
This practice isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. I see so many clients—myself included—react in ways that don’t serve and then feel the sting afterward. The good news? Every moment is an invitation to choose again.
To pause.
To breathe.
To respond.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
— Viktor E. Frankl
Where in your life are you being invited to respond rather than react?
Notice the next time you feel triggered. Can you soften into the space between the stimulus and your response?
That space… is where your power lives.
With love and presence,
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