Between stimulus and response…
Increasing Response Time
Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
STIMULUSÂ = FREEDOM TO CHOOSEÂ = RESPONSE
What we all need is a “pause button”-something that enables us to stop between what happens to us and our response to it, and to choose our own response. It is possible for us as individuals to develop this capacity to pause. It is possible to act rather than react.
We can step back and examine our lives and our behavior. The first step is self-awareness.
Self-awareness: As humans we can stand apart form our own life and observe it. We can look at our thoughts. We can then decide to change our thoughts and behavior.
Conscience: Moral or ethical sense, or inner voice. It is the hardware of our soul.Â
Imagination: The ability to envision something entirely different from past experiences. It is seeing yourself responding differently.
Independent will: The power to take action. The internal power we all have to be our “best self”. The decision to recommit, to win the battles privately, to set personal goals, and identify motives and values. The essence of true happiness is subordinating what we want now for what we want eventually.Â
The four principles reside in the space we humans have between what happens to us and our response to it. The fact that we have these four gifts means no one has to be a victim.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I have often said that life is all about reaction time.
What I mean by that is that there are so many situations that seem to present themselves in a repetitive way. I have come up with a measurement to determine if you are a growing individual, a stagnant individual or someone who is on a downward spiral.
If the first time something happens to you, it takes you 2 weeks to get over the anger/frustration/hurt. Then, the next time a similar thing happens, you are growing if it only take 11 days. Soon, that situation will occur and you will be able to brush it off immediately — that is when you have conquered!
Dealing with difficult things is a process to learn, not something that always comes naturally. But, I have found this to be a fairly good measure of how well I’m learning a life lesson.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hit the pause button today.
We have the ability to look at the past learn from it and apply it to the future.
Each one of us has a moral compass. We can hit the pause button and make some decisions now, today that will impact that time in the future when those morals and values are tested. This pause button can be used in our daily prep time. Analyze yesterday pause today, decide to change and move forward.
There are times when the situation does not allow the time needed to hit that pause button. Hit it now. Make the decision. Stick to the decision when the issue/temptation arises.
We are destined for greatness. It is our choice. Make the choice today - every day.
Y’all Rock
Steve
June 13th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I originally read about stimulus and response when reading “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. This was a new idea to me then, and one I spent some time internalizing. Thanks for sharing this, it’s something we can always improve upon.