Responding Instead of Reacting

Have you ever caught yourself using words like “uncomfortable,” “weird,” or “activated” to describe how you’re feeling? These words might seem vague, but they hold a powerful secret: they don’t come with a built in action plan. Unlike words like “angry” (which might trigger thoughts of confrontation) or “anxious” (which might send you spiraling into worry), these simpler descriptors create a pause, a space where your prefrontal cortex doesn’t automatically know what to do next. And here’s the surprising part: that’s actually wonderful news.  

This moment of not knowing is where the magic happens. When we notice sensations in our bodies without immediately reacting or spinning a story about what they mean, we create an opportunity for something different. Instead of letting our nervous system hijack us into old patterns, we can consciously choose how to respond. This is the difference between reacting (automatic, often unconscious) and responding (intentional, grounded).

From this place of noticing, we can reach for tools that actually help us regulate: coregulating with supportive people who make us feel safe, slowing down our breath and movements, engaging our senses with something grounding like a familiar scent, or simply allowing our nervous system to settle. These practices help us move from dysregulation back to a place where we can think clearly and act with intention. It’s not about suppressing our feelings or pretending everything is fine. It’s about tending to ourselves with curiosity and compassion, so we can respond to life from a place of wholeness rather than react from a place of overwhelm.

#SomaticNeuroscience #CoRegulation #SelfAwareness #RespondDontReact #BrainBodyConnection #MindfulLiving