Monday, May 16, 2016

Experiences Shape Your Reactions

Today's DailyOM brought to you by:
 

 
May 16, 2016
Experiences Shape Your Reactions
No Wrong Response

by Madisyn Taylor

There is no such thing as a right or wrong response to any given situation as we all come to it with our own experience.


Our view of the universe is largely determined by our experiences. It is when we are caught off guard by the spontaneity of existence that we are most apt to respond authentically, even when our feelings do not correspond with those of the multitude. Events that arouse strong emotions with us or are surprising in nature can be disquieting, for it often is in their aftermath that we discover how profoundly our histories have shaped us. The differences that divide us from our peers are highlighted in our reactions when these diverge from the mainstream, and this can be highly upsetting because it forces us to confront the uniqueness of our lives.

When our response to unexpected news or startling ideas is not the same as that of the people around us, we may feel driven by a desire to dismiss our feelings as irrational or incorrect. But reactions themselves are neither right, nor wrong. The forces that sculpted the patterns that to a large extent dictate our development are not the same forces that shaped the development of our relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. There is no reason to believe that one person's reaction to a particular event is somehow more valid than another's. How we respond to the constant changes taking place in the world around us is a product of our history, a testament to our individuality, and a part of the healing process that allows us to address key elements of our past in a context we can grasp in the present.

Life's pivotal events can provide you with a way to define yourself as a unique and matchless being, but you must put aside the judgments that might otherwise prevent you from gaining insight into your distinct mode of interpreting the world. Try to internalize your feelings without categorizing or evaluating them. When you feel unsure of the legitimacy of your reactions, remember that cultural, sociological, spiritual, and familial differences can cause two people to interpret a single event in widely dissimilar ways. Examining your responses outside of the context provided by others can show you that your emotional complexity is something to be valued, for it has made you who you are today.


DailyOM Course Spotlight

Becoming Happier Than God
by Neale Donald Walsch

Whether you would call yourself a happy person or not, this course from Neale Donald Walsch will assist you in "turning up" your current level of happiness and in believing the notion that what is true for one of us is true for all of us. It is imperative to the health and healing of our planet that we all learn to live lives that are Happier Than God. This 11 week course contains powerful lessons every week that include detailed information on bringing and keeping happiness in your life. The course contains powerful audio and video, along with specific instructions to help you master the 17 Steps to Being Happier Than God.

> Get the first lesson now


Top 10 DailyOM Courses:

1. Break the Grip of Past Lovers
2. 21 Day Yoga Body!
3. 8 Week Whole Body Makeover!
4. The 4-Minute Peaceful Warrior Workout
5. A Year to Clear What is Holding You Back!
6. Overcoming Self-Sabotage
7. Reinventing The Body, Resurrecting the Soul
8. Heal Yourself with Writing
9. 14 Day Yoga Fat Blaster
10. Combating Emotional Vampires

New Courses | All Courses


What do you think?
Discuss this article and share your opinion

Want more DailyOM?
Register for your free email, or browse all articles

  No Wrong Response

Share the OM:

Email this to a friend
Printable version
Save in My DailyOM
Discuss this article

On-line Courses:


Break the Grip of Past Lovers
by Jumana Sophia


The 4-Minute Peaceful Warrior Workout
by Dan Millman

More DailyOM:

  • On-line Courses
  • Soul Readings
  • Today's Horoscopes
  • Shop the Marketplace
  • Join the Community
  • Home | Gift Shop | My DailyOM | Marketplace | Community | Archives | Share The OM | Contact Us
    Subscribe | Change Email | User Settings | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Help/FAQ
    Make DailyOM Your Homepage | Link To Us | Publish DailyOM On Your Website

    © 2004-2016 DailyOM - All Rights Reserved
    No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission
    Artwork by Wang Chang-Ming

    No comments: