Responding

Amidst all of the chaos and craziness going on right now, I feel it is incredibly appropriate to discuss a little thought provoked by my yoga teacher a few weeks ago. In our dharma lesson at the beginning of class, the always insightful Asha spoke of choosing to respond and not react. Reactions are an immediate response the body and brain create as soon as something happens. A response is something you are active in creating along with your body and your brain. Get it?

Here's the Dictionary.com definition of the two words:

re⋅spond
–verb (used without object)

1.	to reply or answer in words: to respond briefly to a question.

2.	to make a return by some action as if in answer: to respond generously to a charity drive.

3.	to react favorably.

4.	Physiology. to exhibit some action or effect as if in answer; react: Nerves respond to a stimulus.

5.	to correspond (usually fol. by to).

–verb (used with object)

7.	to say in answer; reply.

re⋅act

–verb (used without object)

1.	to act in response to an agent or influence: How did the audience react to the speech?

2.	to act reciprocally upon each other, as two things.

3.	to act in a reverse direction or manner, esp. so as to return to a prior condition.

4.	to act in opposition, as against some force.

5.	to respond to a stimulus in a particular manner: reacting to a shock by jumping; to react to the word “coward” with anger.

6.	to undergo a chemical reaction.

Wow. Look at the descriptive words in the two definitions: respond has words like "make a return, answer, favorably" while react has words like "act, opposition, against, undergo a chemical reaction" That last one is incredible. "Ungergo a chemical reaction." A reaction is exactly that-- a chemical reaction in the brain and body that elicit an outward action. While a response requires thought to put a voice behind it... see the word "verbally" in there?

If we choose to respond and not react, what would happen?

....Would you throw that plastic water bottle in the trash or would you stop and think about where you could recycle it instead?

....If you saw someone begging for money, would you brush them off as hopeless or consider that you may be one paycheck away from the same situation?

....Would you flip off the person who just cut you off or would you say a small prayer for their safety? (that's a hard one, I know)

If we all respond instead of react, can this world be a better place?