The Space Between

We are well into the new year; with that, many of the new year's resolutions have begun to fade away and subside. Although, that does not have to be. You can continue to push forward through life's stressors if you apply practical strategies to mitigate stress. For most, there is no space built in between the stimulus (stressor in your life) and your response. Why is it essential to build or create space between these? Because it allows us to have an intentional response to the stimulus.  

Intentional: done by intention or design: intended (Merriam-Webster). 

For most, our response to a stimulus is not intentional; it is based on our current emotions. Often, this is displayed through angry outbursts or irrational decisions that have the potential to result in a negative outcome. 

Example: During your commute to work, another driver cuts you off. After audibly expressing your disdain for their actions with a few carefully chosen words, you decided to speed around them and show your disapproval. Just as you get next to them to share your thoughts, the car in front of you stops short, and you rear-end them. 

In this example, the response to the stimulus was not intentional, resulting in a negative outcome. 

So how do we create space? 

Creating space is by practicing effective strategies that help you slow down and think through your response. Box breathing, relaxation drills, and exercise help build adequate space between stimulus and an intentional response.

Anchor box breathing to a daily routine, like when you first get in your car and click the seatbelt do a series of box breathing. When you pull into the driveway after work, do a series of box breathing. The key is to breathe.

 Another way is through meditation. Allow yourself to slow down and meditate on the truth found in Scripture, such as:

James 1:2-3- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Proverbs 17:24- "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."

Proverbs 19:20- "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

There are resources available, there are techniques that will help you manage and mitigate stress; make use of them!

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." ~ Viktor Frankl