YOUR ‘SPACE’, YOUR ‘POWER’
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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 FREEDOM
This very inspiring statement, made by Viktor E. Frankl must have stirred the minds of all its readers. Many of them would have unquestionably delved into its intentions. But how many have actually been able to implement this successfully in their lives?
The answer may be no more than a handful. Perhaps because this idea is not effectively broken down for us. Hence, allow me to assist you with its understanding.
We all are apprised of the theory by Edward Thorndike that behavior comes up as a result of the reciprocity between stimulus and response. That when some external situation occurs in front of a responder, their reaction to it would be based on the stimulus, or what kind of brain activity it causes to the responder.
Taking this theory and its proposition a step ahead, Frankl suggests or rather differentiates human conscientiousness from the compulsiveness of any other living organism. He denotes the importance and essentiality of the freedom that lies in the choices that we are empowered to make as humans, leading to our growth.
Viktor mentions a space in which there is our might to choose our response. What is this space actually? Indeed that space is the much talked about and less practiced ‘pause’.
This pause before our every reaction is advised in order to dodge some ugly situations to arise. That space between the stimulus and response is the decisive factor of one’s forthcomings, which may be in a short while or in a long time. Of course, we all are versed with its good. Possibly, its power is not recognized well and in a concrete manner.
When we have the strength to choose our responses wisely, we wholly justify the word responsibility which denotes one’s ability to respond orderly. Now the question is, how to muster the solidity to perform in the correct way? This power is only accessible if we look inwards and ask ourselves who is the master of this being. Can we effectively alter the other side’s standpoint? Seek an answer to this question, doing so could drive out some conflicting thoughts. When the stimulus is extraneous, the responder is not left with any choice to control the former, but only to concretize one’s authority on oneself.
Let us look at it this way, supposing you have, in each of your hands, a bottle of soda and a bottle of water. You shake and whisk it vigorously and attempt to open it. What do you anticipate? The bottle with soda in it will doubtlessly foam up, whereas the one with water will coherently stay contained and calm. The decision-maker is evidently what is inside.
Aside from boosting ourselves with sobriety, the power to steer the self and pick the apt response to a given circumstance unburdens us of some stigmas such as prejudice or biases. The freedom to choose the potentially unerring response provides a route to harmonical symbiosis. Moreover, it guides us to liberating growth.
I would like to now sum it up by stirring the mighty conscience of all the youngsters out there who have their entire lives ahead of them. Choose wisely, choose discreetly! Place a fine equilibrium between your response and stimulus. You have that space between the two, so shake off whatever is holding you back, and forge ahead with the best decision.