The Difference Between Reacting and Responding

Most people will look at reaction and responding as the same thing. However, based on the situation, these words produce very different responses to certain experiences.

Reacting to a situation is more habitual and instinctive. This can end up causing more problems then solutions. Responding on the other hand involves having more presence of mind. You are not just reacting out of habit but considering the needs of the present situation.

In fact, learning to respond may offer better survival potential than instinctive reactions for what our world is today.

Key Takeaways:

• Words can be very powerful as they can define our experiences as well as the emotions that we feel.
• React and respond are very important words that are typically thought of as synonyms but they actually produce different effects to life experiences.
• When you are making a decision, you should use careful analysis of your circumstances and make a logical decision based off of reasoning.

“I often hear that “it’s just a semantic difference” when discussing terms that have the same meaning.”

Read more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/202110/the-difference-between-reacting-and-responding

References:

• Psychology Today (Website)
• Self Help for Life (YouTube Channel)