The Importance of Listening and Observing Without Reacting
With political season in full swing here in the US, we are also moving towards peak "reactivity season," where people throw their opinions onto the bonfire of public debate, often without even listening to what has been said.
Soon thereafter, we watch shouting matches develop, in which nobody is actually hearing a word anyone else is saying.
Of course, we are bombarded with reactionary and emotionally charged content from the media, largely because "watching a train wreck" is a good way to get clicks; even if those clicks don't actually add any value to anyone's existence.
Because of this cloud of noise, it is very easy to get caught up in the emotions and just react with the first thing that comes to mind.
But there is a lot to be said for simply listening and observing without immediately reaching for a reaction!
Let us keep in mind that many of the provocative words and images that are dragged in front of us are designed to provoke a reaction. Actually taking the time to pause and carefully consider what is really being said can be incredibly powerful... often moreso than just flying off the handle.
"I need a moment to think about" is also a great way to break state and not fall into a reactionary trap someone might have set for you... which was intended to get you to burst out with words you'd end up regretting later.
Think back to moments in your life where your emotional state has led you to lash out with words that were more intended to hurt someone else, as opposed to actually address the topic being discussed.
Sometimes we just get so disgusted that we forget ourselves!
Inserting a deliberate pause into a discussion where heated emotions are causing people to behave badly is also a great way to get the person you're talking to to do a brief "reset" and perhaps adopt a more moderate tone.
Remember, when someone is getting very angry in an emotional debate, that anger is often not directed at you, but is instead the result of touching on some issue the person, themselves, is struggling with.
The pause allows the person to drop into their hearts.
There are many situations in which being patient and simply listening without acting on a compulsion to react can be one of your greatest allies in maintaining healthier interactions in the face of tense situations.
So I invite you to remember, next time you encounter a situation that gets your hackles up and you feel inclined to react, that not everything begs a comeback.
Thanks for visiting, and Bright Blessings to all!
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