When a triggering event occurs in our life we have many ways in which we can respond, but we regularly forget this and claim that an event or a circumstance caused our reaction.
When we claim that someone has made us angry or made us sad, we have overlooked the fact that people react in different ways, depending on the interpretation and significance that they place on situations and events.
We have all experienced situations where what is very upsetting for one person may be quite amusing to another, or what is important for someone may not even be noticed by someone else. We know that what is unsettling in one circumstance, may be understood and accepted easily in another, yet we often forget this and blame someone or something for our feelings and behaviour.
When we become aware that what we are telling ourselves about a situation or event, has much to do with how we react, we then realize that we can choose our own meanings and in turn our responses.
It is liberating to know we can choose what we focus on, what is important to us, and how we want to be in every situation. This knowledge enables us to start living a life aligned to our own vision and values. Of course we will regularly fail, but becoming more aware of what we are thinking, feeling and valuing will open up possibilities for positive change.