Acting Consciously vs. Reacting Impulsively
What happened is past. Your reaction to the past is your present. And the results of your present actions will create your future.
Success, Happiness, joy and fulfillment is dependent on your present actions. Therefore, the solution to life is tied to your present actions. At this very moment, you can consciously decide how you will act, instead of reacting.
Observe, analyze, and then act, instead of reacting based on your programmed emotional response.
Consider this for a moment. When someone says something to you, or as we often say, someone “pushes your buttons", you immediately react based on how their words affect you. But that reaction is caused by your state of mind, your reactive state of mind. Just imagine what would happen if your state of mind allows you to observe the thoughts and then decide how you want to consciously act. This is the difference between reacting to the world and consciously deciding before you act. When you react, you are not in control; you are not the deciding factor. The situation dictates how you feel and what you do. However, you can change that. You can take back control of your emotions and your relationships. By consciously acting, you become the decision maker.
In addition, you should know that you are the only one that can do that. You are the only one that can change yourself.
Even after reading books or listening to wonderful speeches, it is still up to you to react as programmed by your emotions or to act consciously by using your intellect.
There is a moment, a small opportunity after the words you hear hit you, before you react. In that moment of opportunity, you can stop your programmed reaction by simply observing what happens in your mind. Then, deliberately act. If you can observe what you hear, see, smell, taste, or touch while the experience is occuring, you are in the perfect position to change your programmed reactions. You can get there by observing first and then acting. This skill is developed by a special meditation technique!
I know this is not an easy task, especially since it involves trying to change years of ingrained behaviour. But just imagine the positive effects it will have on your life. Just imagine the benefits you will gain! For example, you will not get angry every time someone pushes your buttons. You will instead be cool, calm, and collective. You won't say something that you will regret nor will you do something you'll be sorry for. You will always be in a better mood and you will be able to meet the challenges of life from a position of strength and calmness, instead of weakness and agitation. You will be able to see situations from a wider perspective and will find it easier to come to solutions instead of giving up in frustration, or worse, reacting improperly and magnifying the situation. If you are able to control your reactions by managing your thoughts, your stress will be reduced, you will have a smile on your face more often, and you will be in a position of power rather than weakness.
Om ShantiH ShantiH ShantiH.
-Sri Rajaji