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Episode 79: “Before You React: Choosing Love Instead of the Knee-Jerk”
- 2025/05/08
- 再生時間： 9 分
- ポッドキャスト
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サマリー
あらすじ・解説
Hey again, beautiful souls—welcome back to Infinite Threads.I’m your host, Bob, and this is Episode 79.Today, we’re doing something a little different.We’re getting really practical.Because let’s face it—most of us don’t mess up in life because we plan to.We mess up because we react.Quickly. Emotionally. Instinctively.We snap. We defend. We shut down—or blow up.And then later… we wish we hadn’t.So today’s episode is about hitting that magical pause button.It’s about asking ourselves one powerful question before we speak, post, or judge:“Is this reaction coming from love—or from fear?”Let’s walk through four real-world scenarios—moments where love can interrupt the cycle and make all the difference.You’re driving, singing along to the radio, enjoying your coffee—and suddenly, BAM.Someone swerves into your lane with zero warning. You have to brake hard. Your coffee spills.Your first thought?Probably not printable.But… what if, in that moment, you paused and said:“What if they’re rushing to the hospital?”“What if they just got terrible news?”“What if they’re doing the best they can… badly?”Even if none of that is true, you benefit from that grace.Your blood pressure drops. Your heart softens.Maybe you whisper, “I hope they’re okay,” instead of muttering something less loving.The shift: From adversary to witness.From anger… to compassion.You’re in line. It’s been a long day.Behind you, someone’s sighing loudly, tapping their foot, maybe even making passive-aggressive comments.The old reaction? Roll your eyes. Maybe snap back.But the new lens says:“Something’s not right with them. This isn’t about me.”You might turn and say, “Long day?”Or just smile… and let the storm pass without letting it inside you.Because people don’t need more friction.Sometimes, they just need one person who won’t escalate.And you? You get to be that person.You’re talking with someone you care about…and then they say something that stings. Judgmental. Dismissive. Maybe even cruel.The old instinct?Defend. Fight. Match hurt with hurt.But if you pause and ask,“What pain might be behind their words?”you might remember:* They’re stressed.* They’ve got unprocessed pain.* They don’t know how to ask for help.This doesn’t excuse their behavior—but it does give you the power to break the cycle.You might respond:“That really hurt—can we slow down and talk about where that came from?”That’s love in action.Not weakness. Rootedness.You’re scrolling social media.Someone posts something ignorant, cruel, or downright dangerous.Your fingers hover over the keyboard—ready to fire back.But here’s the thing:No one has ever changed their heart because someone shamed them into it.Before you respond, ask:* “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be effective?”* “Will my response lead to understanding—or to more division?”Sometimes, love means not engaging at all.Other times, love means responding with a question instead of a retort.Try:“I used to feel that way too—can I share what changed my perspective?”If they respond with hate?You’ve lost nothing.But if they don’t…You just cracked open a window.That’s love doing its quiet work.In every one of these situations, the same truth applies:You are the space between reaction and response.You are the place where love can intervene.Not because you’re perfect.Not because you never get angry.But because you choose to pause.To breathe.To ask the better question.That pause?That’s where freedom lives.And maybe, just maybe—the next time someone lashes out or cuts in line or says the wrong thing—you’ll remember:Hurt people hurt people.But healed people… heal people.And you, my friend, are becoming one of the healed.Thank you for walking through this with me today.Let’s keep practicing love in real life—not just when it’s easy… but especially when it’s not.Until next time—Respond with heart.React with awareness.And always… stay connected.Thanks for reading Infinite Threads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bobs618464.substack.com