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Matt James Ph.D.
COMMENTS
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“When I look back on my knee-jerk reactions now, I realize I should have just taken a breath.” —Fred Durst
Let’s talk about reaction versus response. Some people use the words synonymously but there’s a world of difference.
A reaction is instant. It’s driven by the beliefs, biases, and prejudices of the unconscious mind. When you say or do something “without thinking,” that’s the unconscious mind running the show. A reaction is based in the moment and doesn’t take into consideration long term effects of what you do or say. A reaction is survival-oriented and on some level a defense mechanism. It might turn out okay but often a reaction is something you regret later.
A response on the other hand usually comes more slowly. It’s based on information from both the conscious mind and unconscious mind. A response will be more “ecological,” meaning that it takes into consideration the well-being of not only you but those around you. It weighs the long term effects and stays in line with your core values
Matt James Ph.D. in Psycology Today
The problem here is, of course, what if your core value are well,
wrong.
