Respond Versus React

When we encounter difficulties along our path to success one true test of how we conquer these troubles is whether we respond or react. You may wonder what the difference is and does it really matter. The difference is when you react to something you will be less likely to think about what you are going to do and just do it, you react. But when you respond you give the matter at hand some forethought before carrying out your action. Reacting can be a positive thing in certain circumstances. For example, if you are driving your car and an animal jumps out in front of you and you react by swerving the vehicle and miss the animal and somehow avoid an accident, then that reaction has a positive outcome. On the other hand if your driving your vehicle down the road and someone cuts you off and you react to the situation by becoming very upset and the incident ruins the rest of your day, then that reaction has a negative outcome. The significant difference between the reacting to a situation and responding to it is that if you react it becomes more emotional, but if respond you give yourself the opportunity to decide how the encounter will affect you. Here is I mean, let's look at the driving example from above. Same situation, car cuts you off, but this time you choose to respond by laughing and saying "Wow that person must really be in a hurry, I would rather be behind that driver than have them behind me". You will not give that incident another thought after that. You made the choice to not give someone else power over you and therefore you did not allow someone else to distract you from your goal. You see the difference between reacting and responding is that when you respond you have control over the situation and you get to decide the outcome. But when you react you let your emotions or someone else decide the outcome. And wouldn't you agree that it is easier to achieve our goals when we control the outcome of the situation.