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Joe Loughery's avatar

This is one of the more challenging ones.

Over a decade ago, I attended a training class. The instructor emphasized the importance of: responding instead of reacting and compartmentalization. I am still far from adequate in either, but I keep trying.

It is interesting, yesterday a co-worker and I were talking about the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt and still checking the boxes.

Thanks for your time.

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Jamie's avatar

This is such a great topic!! Something I work on with clients is identifying the somatic experience that comes with being activated or triggered. This can often help, as we don’t always know what will trigger us. Or even if we do, when the amygdala gets hijacked we may not have access to our rational brain.

But tuning in to how our body feels can help give the moment of pause to ask those three questions (getting back to our rational brain). Maybe it’s the zip of anxiety shooting up through your sternum… or your muscles tightening and clenching… for some it’s holding their breath… usually there’s a big sense of urgency that doesn’t come from reality.

If you can take the time to look back on some reactions you’ve had, and identify what your physical experience is in these reaction moments, you can begin to notice them as they happen. It’s definitely a process! But as you hone the skill, you’ll find responding becomes a more natural behavior!

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