As you go through your day, in your interactions with people, notice two aspects of yourself.
When given the opportunity to speak, there is a part of you that will speak quickly. When given the opportunity to react, that part will react quickly. That is not really you.
That part is a compendium of all the experiences you’ve had, all of which have been recorded. And most likely, you are reacting the way you’ve done before.
As the expression goes, “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.” This is quite true.
But there is another part of you that is not as quick to grab the microphone. That part of you speaks more slowly and not as quickly. That part of you is ready to respond rather than react. Your reactions will be based on your past. Your responses will be more based on what you’re willing to listen to rather than automatically reacting.
That response is wisdom. It’s where you’re listening to guidance from your highest self for the highest good of all. It may not be what you originally thought you would say or do, but there will be a kind of peace to it.
It does require that you slow down your life a little bit. Just slow it down slightly. If you’re willing to wait rather than just react, wait a bit before responding. You will find that your nature is peaceful, and things will smooth out.
You have to slow down a little bit. There’s all the chatter in your head. Some thoughts that aren’t even yours come from somewhere in your past or your caregivers’ past and those thoughts will happen all the time.
You won’t be able to stop them, but you don’t have to listen to them. You can see them for what they are and then wait to see what the most loving response would be in any circumstance.
Often, this requires you to disconnect from the things that distract you—screens, phones, and conversations that really put you in a state of sleep.
To wake up to the response required in any situation, you must be a little bit more peaceful and quiet and allow what comes to come naturally.
This takes some practice, but it’s very, very rewarding. A sense of peace will come over you when you don’t feel inclined to react. And, with that peace will come the reassurance of love and the comfort that is yours and available to you at any time.
Stay centered on that, and then respond as you will. The more you practice, the more enjoyable it will be.
