RESTRAINT OF REACTION

Restraint of tongue and pen begins with detaching. Detachment is the basis for restraint in all our reactions. It begins with a willingness to change our minds, to divorce ourselves from our own opinions.

Restraint of reaction requires more than just keeping our mouths shut while letting our attack thoughts race, gathering steam. Too often we give ourselves credit for saying nothing when we've, in effect, simply stapled our lips together. There is no spiritual growth in that for that steam will continue to gather until we simply blow up...hurting ourselves and/or those around us, but not necessarily our perceived offender. 

It is during that time of restraint that we call to mind the spiritual directions we have been given; i.e.,  find where and when we  made that decision based on self that later placed us in the position to be hurt, angered, afraid...the place where we find ourselves here and now.

This, of course,  needs some quiet time. We say nothing now but as soon as possible, we sit down, invite God in to do our thinking with us, and ponder until we find that decision...that decision we made and the action we took based on that decision that got us going down that wrong road again.

Restraint of reaction...a learned art, also known as detachment.

Thank You.