The Choice To Choose
“In between stimulus and response there is a space, in that space lies our power to choose our response, in our response lies our freedom and our growth” ~ Victor Frankl
The above quote is the basis of why I selected “A Conscious Choice” as the name of my business. I firmly believe we each have a choice in how we respond to struggles, setbacks, and even challenging people. The key is training our brains to pause and create space between when a stimulus comes at us and how we respond.
So much easier said than done!
We develop habits and patterns, that overtime become automatic responses we no longer think about, we just do. What would happen in your work and/or personal life if you remembered you have a choice in how you respond? What would happen with your relationships if you gave others the space to choose their response instead somehow manipulating things to be the way you want them to be?
Whether it is at the workplace or in your personal life, consider the below examples of automatic responses:
- Responding defensively when your work is criticized
- Saying yes when you really want to say no
- Keeping quiet about your opinion for fear of looking stupid
- Blurting out your opinion without filtering your words
- Pushing yourself harder when your inner critic kicks in yet your body is saying “I need a break”
We all have a tendency to react negatively when we feel some type of threat. The threat may not be physical, but sometimes the fear of another’s wrath, criticism, or withdrawal of approval will keep us playing small to avoid a negative encounter.
If you would like to learn how to create space and better manage the distractions and demands coming at you, I can help. Contact me for a complimentary strategy session to start your path towards resisting impulses and achieving greater peace.