E + R = O
The outcomes (O) you are experiencing are a result of your responses (R) to the events or circumstances (E) in your life. It’s that simple. If you react in anger without thinking to an E, you will most likely forfeit a favorable O.
What Comes Out When You Are Squeezed?
In his book titled, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey teaches us that between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose. He speaks about either being a reactive person driven by emotion and the behavior of others, or being a proactive person driven by values and the ability to choose.
We have the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE. We can choose to react. Or, we can choose to master the pause between the E and the R. If you are driven by emotion you will skip right past your moment to choose. Actually, you did choose, just without thought.
The question to ask yourself is how do you, how will you, handle the space between the next stimulus that comes your way and the response you want to communicate to that stimulus? Will you pause and evaluate the situation or will you react and allow the negative cycle of emotion to continue. It is your choice to make.