Reacting and Responding- by: Jane Kifer

Some people do not realize they react to situations. They are checked out and can only respond from the place of fear which is reacting. Acknowledge this space and take a deep breath and say " Whew I am pissed! Or sad! or overwhelmed " and explain why or say you don't know why and ask for another time to speak about it. It will fair much better for everyone. Less hurt and blame. Sometimes I feel completely saturated and wish everyone would stop talking to me, but I take it on and go beyond my limit and comfort and then when they don't stop, I verbally freak out. That isn't fair. I knew I was saturated way before the boiling point. Now, even to my kids I say " Hold UP, I need some space, I am totally overwhelmed right now." It works wonders.