Reacting Vs. Responding?

21 replies
Q: What is the difference between reacting versus responding??

A: The Law of Non-Resistance!

The Law of Non-Resistance; a Universal Law, states that the difference between reacting to an event and responding is that reacting signifies that we have lost at the game of creating our own reality; because we are not using our minds...our minds are using us.
To put it in another way, you are being an automatic response mechanism, because you are reacting unconsciously to a triggering event.

Yet, it is responding which indicates that we have harnessed the magnificent power of our minds in order to create choice. And awareness creates choice! Once we are aware of how we create our realities, we can choose as to how we shall perceive the stimulus that comes in from our environment and thus react accordingly in a fashion that serves us.

In essence, to live with the Law of Non-Resistance will cause you to be strong, to move forward in life and to create rather than disintegrate.
Whatever you resist will always persist, so if you learn not to resist and learn to respond with full awareness, you will be closer to mastering your mind and therefore mastering your life.
#law of #non-resistance #reacting #responding
  • Profile picture of the author Thrazgard
    Aren't reacting and responding synonymous?
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    When someone laughs at your dream, its a good dream.
    I'm already rich, because I get to live.
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    • Profile picture of the author 711gemstone
      When you react you don't think just do.

      When you respond you think about the situation before you respond.
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      Be Smart and Collaborate: Prevent "Tragedy of the Commons"
      JA enterprises

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    • Profile picture of the author Innersky23
      No.

      The dictionary defines React as:
      "to act in opposition, as against some force"

      Whereas, Responding is: "to react favorably."
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      • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
        Originally Posted by Innersky23 View Post

        No.

        The dictionary defines React as:
        "to act in opposition, as against some force"

        Whereas, Responding is: "to react favorably."

        Thanks dictionary man, there really is a difference between React and Respond, a big difference. Thanks for the share Innersky.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lee A Bracey
      Originally Posted by Thrazgard View Post

      Aren't reacting and responding synonymous?
      They are similar, but A 'reaction' suggests an automatic, thoughtless, response. 'Responding', however suggests inclusion of the analytical thoughts and consequences of said response. You think before you speak...
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    • Profile picture of the author mert
      Originally Posted by Thrazgard View Post

      Aren't reacting and responding synonymous?
      Okey! Reacting and responding are synonymous. Good definition. Though those words are synonymous, let’s scrutinize their connotative meaning that really contributes to our lives. To make it not complicated, let’s take these situations as examples.

      If you’re having a job well-done but still your boss scolded you because she doesn’t like it, what will you do? Of course you will REACT right? On the other situation, if* you’re asked by your boss to jot down the important information during the meeting, what do you think will you do, REACT or RESPOND? :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Exel
    I heard about this exact concept from Zig Ziglar audio program the other day.

    It's not what happens to us, but how we react (or respond) to it that matters.
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    • Re-Act = from past habits.

      Response - Ability = more conscious effort to Act in ways more productive and not from past habits.

      IMO
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  • Profile picture of the author gallus
    So what we think of as free will is an automated triggered response?
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    • Stimulus to Response for lower animals

      Stimulus to Will (act of mind, whatever mind that is!) to Response for us

      IMO
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Bucker
      Originally Posted by gallus View Post

      So what we think of as free will is an automated triggered response?
      No, an automated triggered response is more of a reaction. It can happen within free will but is not free will.

      Free will gives us the ability do decide not to act upon our automated triggered response aka reacting, if we so choose.
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      • Profile picture of the author vicone
        This is an important issue which is often not very clear. Unsurprisingly, fiction writers have given it a great deal of study because they want to depict human behavior in a more realistic way.

        Consider the following scenario:

        "The tiger crouched, snarling, ready to leap.

        Adrenaline pumped furiously into his veins as Jim felt the rush of fear and his muscles tightened immediately for action. He quickly looked around for a way to escape. 'Will I have to kill this beautiful animal?' he thought, and sadly raised the rifle to his shoulder."

        STIMULUS: "The tiger crouched, snarling, ready to leap."

        REFLEX RESPONSE: "Adrenaline pumped furiously into his veins as Jim felt the rush of fear and his muscles tightened immediately for action."

        CONSIDERED RESPONSE: He quickly looked around for a way to escape. 'Will I have to kill this beautiful animal?' he thought, and sadly raised the rifle to his shoulder.

        We all live at the level of reflex response (or reaction) wherein our autonomic systems kick in as a response to our perception and we experience sudden feelings and our bodies prepare for appropriate action, such as to fight, flee, eat, engage in sex, etc, according to our perception.

        Too often, though, we let ourselves down with our poorly considered response, that moment of awareness after the reflex when we contemplate our options as to the best course of action. We get caught up in the emotions of our reflexes - fear, anger, jealousy, revenge, etc - and later blame the person or situation that evoked those feelings: "They made me do it!" we cry to justify our reactions.

        As we become more mature and learn to behave in a more constructive way, we learn to pause when negative emotions start to take hold. We learn to shift our attention to consider consequences and what action might produce a better outcome. For instance, we learn not to make important decisions when we are feeling angry; to sleep on the matter and return to it when we are feeling calmer and our mind is clearer.

        Studies have shown that many of those who end up in prison have a low threshold for frustration and are less likely to consider the consequences of their behavior. Their reflex responses are acting as we might expect but they haven't learned to shift attention away from anger and other negative emotions towards better possible ways of handling the situation.

        On the other hand, there are those who dutifully ponder the consequences of all feelings and emotions, including the positive ones, and stifle the joy of living. They surrender spontaneity and inhibit feelings out of a fear that all of them may be treacherous.

        Of real concern is not learning to handle the emotional surge we experience by not paying more attention to the many negative reflex feelings which alert us to the need for a more considered response. When we feel resentment or anger, envy or jealousy, hatred or revenge, jealousy or fear, instead of being caught up with those feelings and going along for a ride that has an unhappy destination, we would do better to learn to pause and consider what we can do that will make our lives more peaceful, joyful or harmonious.

        We then respond to life with purpose.

        Ivan
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  • Profile picture of the author aatyum
    Hi.

    The Law of Non-Resistance; is a sibling principle to other values within this regional dimension of existence.


    There are technologies that should be understood to be more than our current day commercialized exposures decide to acknowledge. There are sciences that express well beyond the scale and scope of our current day presentations.


    Ancient technologies have been around us for millennium, and their explanations are recorded within coded scriptural text, monumental structures, coordinate geometric location proximity's, and, at temporal event occurrence prescriptions of celestial episode cycle.


    There are technologies that concern the formation of energy distillations, that express themselves as explanations from beyond the absolute of potential.


    It might be better understood that the principals involved in the prescriptions of referenced law, that concern both the tangible and intrinsic physics of this Mother Nature, are of a hierarchical caste, wherein their expression is at all times in a relative correspondent balance to the being of itself, as a presented whole. As such, 'Everything Is Connected, Nothing Is Divorced From Itself' - Tom Garris...



    Consider for a moment; 'Creation Is A Friction Between Two Polar Irregularities' - Tom Garris. In this case where the polarities are that of intrinsic principles of referenced law, the friction is the resultant fact, which in terms of humankind and the surrounding environment, is the inducement of a stimulant within the psycho-mental chemistry of an individual. Behavioral activity follows this condition of consequence. This says nothing of material formations within or outside of an immediate proximity.


    These termed laws, are principles, which act upon themselves in respect to their hierarchical character. Their behavior respects the interminglings of a fundamental, that is indifferent to purpose, but sensitive to a state of embodiment that is a dynamic of function.


    Due to our current modern day posture of arrogance in terms of disallowing the knowledge of communications between ourselves and our surrounding environment, the workings of an 'actuality behind reality' are overlooked.


    It might be better understood, that the difference between reacting versus responding, is that of a conditional difference of frequency specific expression.


    These expressions are in activity simultaneously. At all episodes within the condition of time, they are being the expression of potential distillations at some discourse of equilibrium; always in the fluid of motion. Hence; 'Alive'

    The principles of the referenced 'law', are alive. This situation in turn, will affect the psychology of behavioral dynamics within human vessel.

    TOM
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  • Profile picture of the author jhoncarroll1984
    There is a huge difference between reacting and responding. A reaction is typically quick, without much thought, tense and aggressive. A response is thought out, calm and non-threatening. A reaction typically provokes more reactions – perpetuating a long line of hatefulness with nothing accomplished.
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    Jhon Carroll

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  • Profile picture of the author Bhekizwe
    hmm
    Reactive usually is compared with proactive.

    Respond usually has to deal with: something has happened, what are you going to do?
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  • Profile picture of the author Natniszakov
    The difference between the two concepts lies in the level of consciouness that we have on each one
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    we always react after something happens .. then once what has happened set in we begin responding ...but if we have no idea what to do we stay in reactive mode .

    training is critical in getting to the point of responding as quick as possible ..that is why the military spend so much money training people ..so when stuff goes bad the response is not to think and react wild it is to respond in accord ..
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  • Innersky23,
    that was a really cool post. Thanks for the jammed packed insight.
    Funny thing is your commentary is exactly what I needed when I needed it.
    Again thanks for such a clear and inspiring post. Great!
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  • Profile picture of the author carnal
    There are not much differences between these two.

    Reacting is when you strongly oppose something.

    Responding is when you give reply to someone (it can be either politely or rudely).
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