[size=15pt]RESPONSE VS REACTION[/size]

The Cockroach Theory for Self-development; Response Vs Reaction

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started flapping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but it landed on another lady in the group.

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. A waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.

The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behaviour of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his hand and threw it out of the restaurant.

Sipping his coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of Ali's mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behaviour?

If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.
It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

He realized that, it is not the shouting of our fathers or our boss or our wife/husband that disturbs us, but it’s our inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs us. It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs us, but our inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs us.

More than the problem, it’s our reaction to the problem that creates chaos in our life.

Lessons learnt from the story:

I understood, we should not react in life. We should always respond. The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right.

To save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry, relax think then respond.

-Anonymous.

True Talk. (FTC)