Life comes at us fast and not all of it is pleasant. When faced with adversity, whether real or perceived, you can move through your feelings of being slighted or mistreated by taking the time to respond, rather than reacting, to the situation.

Negative thoughts and feelings are a natural reaction to conflict and tend to make us feel like we have to do something Right Now to defend ourselves and rectify the situation. This can lead to rash actions and harsh words which seldom result in the outcome we desire. Responding is more thought out. It’s putting the breaks on that immediate knee-jerk reaction and taking a minute to think about the situation. It’s assessing what is happening, considering all sides and making a plan as to how you want to proceed.

You can make the shift from reacting to responding by giving yourself the space to stop. Take a breath, bring yourself down from the panic perch and give yourself the opportunity to make a sound decision on how best to resolve the matter. If you need to, excuse yourself and take a walk or do some stretches to clear your head. This will help you to use good judgement when you go back to face the issue.

Keep in mind shifting a mindset from reacting negatively to responding positively will take some time. None of us turn into sunshine overnight. It takes practice and persistence to change our habits but it’s worth it. Because it’s that practice and persistence in switching from reacting to responding that will result in a happier you.

If this sounds like you, someone you love or someone in your network The Recovery Coach NY is here to help. Our teams of Mental Health Coaches and Companions listen actively, without judgement, while providing solution-oriented actions that can begin to bring the peace you and your loved one seek. We honor all paths of recovery with years of experience and a vast array of resources that encourage those in need find a way to a life of joy and purpose. Cindy is available for a confidential conversation to answer any of your questions via phone at 631-921-4085 or directly via email here.

We provide Recovery Coaching, Mental Health Support & Coaching, Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship, Executive Function & Accountability Coaching, Academic Coaching & Scholastic Support, Safe Transport, Case Management, Psychedelic Integration Coaching, Intervention and Emergency Services. To learn more about our services, visit our website.

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