Daily Inspiration 5-15-10

"The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice."

-- George Eliot

"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."

-- Dr Viktor E Frankl

It is always choice, though sometimes that is a bit hard to fathom. Viktor Frankl made some of the toughest choices known to man, and if you haven't read his book, Man's Search For Meaning, you may learn much about choices. It is a very powerful book and yet demonstrates some of the highest learning under some of the hardest conditions. His quote above is demonstration of the powerful conclusions and learning that he experienced.

To many of us, the space between the stimulus and the response is so small as to not even notice a space exists. Though it is indeed a response, the way we experience it is as a reaction. It has become automatic. We see, react; we hear, react. It is a trained response. We have learned various ways to respond to certain stimuli over the years, much of it learned under 10 years old by watching our parents and their friends and relatives.

If we decide to change our reactionary life to one with more control, the way to the change is through the space between the stimulus and the response. As we grow in this enlightenment, the space is widened to the point that we can choose a response instead of one being chosen automatically by our past training and experience.

There is great power in this change of widening the space between stimulus and response. It is empowering and our growth is clear and our freedom is strengthened and expanded.

This space is widened ever more by changing how we choose to think about a stimulus. React? Respond. React? Respond. It is always choice and it is always our own choice.

I Grow By The Space Between Stimulus & Response.

Spread Some Joy Today--If you choose to, begin today to think about how you react to various stimuli. Decide today that you will choose a response next time rather than a typical, stereotyped reaction. It will be a rush and you will want more.