I have always loved the quote attributed to Einstein that says “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. When my resources and experience were limited this quote helped me to remember to try something different. Usually it was the exact opposite, which yielded similar results but it still kept me trying.
This Neale Donald Walsh quote gets to the heart of things.
“Reaction is just that—an action you have taken before. When you “re-act,” what you do is assess the incoming data, search your memory bank for the same or nearly the same experience, and act the way you did before. This is all the work of the mind, not of your soul.” ― The Complete Conversations with God
The choice we have is to take pause, understand what’s really happening in the moment and process how it is affecting us.
Then respond.
In our power and in a way that lines up with who we are.
Re-acting is insanity.
Responding is taking the reins and creating our life story.