What it means to be "Drowning in a sea of reaction".
"Drowning in a sea of reaction" is a metaphor that attempts to describe the way people defensively react to any and every situation without giving any thought to the way they are acting.
An example of this is a person who becomes offended for whatever reason by another beings action, and without taking the time to consider why this being may have behaved in such a way, sees such action as a direct and personal attack, and reacts to this action - creating what is called a chain of action and re-action.
This chain of action and re-action is ongoing, and is sparked by underlying assumptions and beliefs we’re not even aware of.
" A reaction is instant. It’s driven by the beliefs, biases, and prejudices of the unconscious mind. When you say or do something “without thinking,” that’s the unconscious mind running the show. A reaction is based in the moment and doesn’t take into consideration long term effects of what you do or say. A reaction is survival-oriented and on some level a defense mechanism. It might turn out okay but often a reaction is something you regret later." - Psychology Today.
Essentially, a reaction is an automatic defense mechanism.
A defense against an initial action.
And so, when we perceive certain actions to be a direct attack on us, or on our ego, we react.
The problem with this is that although we may perceive certain situations to be an attack against us - they usually aren't.
Thus, as we react defensively to any and every situation because we are living in fear (survival mode), we are living our lives with blinders on, and we are not controlling our own actions through conscious choice.
For example, say somebody stepped on your shoe whilst you were using public transit.
This person could have done so intentionally, or completely unintentionally. Yet without even properly assessing the situation, and determining the root of this cause, or the possible effects of your actions, you act "defensively" out of your lower nature survival instincts, and punch him in the face.
You may not even realize that you have just punched a 50 year old man in the face for stepping on your shoe, and perhaps you'll regret this later.
This is drowning in a sea of reaction.
It is being stuck in a mechanism where you always act out of subconscious judgement and self defense, repeating or re-enacting the original offensive action.
Being prone to re-act means that you are allowing outside influences to control your inner world, determine how you feel, and in turn control your actions.
It means you are lowering yourself to the antagonizers level ; a level of discord.
This is bad because it means you are not making your own decisions.
It means you are allowing your actions to be determined by external events, by allowing your inner world to be controlled by external events and thus unconsciously re-acting to them out of defense.
Much of this comes from the reptilian cortex part of the brain, the survival instinct mechanism, which many allow to control them through F.E.A.R. of what could potentially happen in any situation.
Through F.E.A.R. mechanisms, we expect the worst in any given situation, and re-act projected discord - creating a potential chain reaction of projected discord.
Through fear mechanisms, we expect the worst, and because of these instinctual survival mechanisms, we re-act towards perceived attack, as if the worst is happening.
Re-acting to any action that is perceived to be positioned against us places us on a low -level of consciousness, as it pushes us back into survival mechanism mode aka F.E.A.R.
If we continue to do this, we will begin to believe that even the slightest, possibly unintentional offense, is a direct action against our well being - and we will see the need to act to defend our selves through re-action.
This will turn every average occurrence into a direct attack on our well-being, making us paranoid, and causing us to sink into an ocean of reaction - until we are drowning.
This is allowing our unconscious mind to run the show, without being aware of our unconscious mind.
Essentially, it is allowing the external world to control our inner world and thus our actions, instead of maintaining our inner peace and controlling our actions.
learning to rise above the surface.
Learning how to respond appropriately to any situation.
As easy as it is to re-act, it is just as easy, perhaps easier, and more beneficial, to RESPOND.
....But what is the difference between re-acting to a situation and responding to it?
The conscious mind determines the actions, the unconscious mind determines the reactions; and the reactions are just as important as the actions. - E. Stanley Jones
The difference between an action that is a Re-action , and an action that is a Response, is that a reaction is unconscious and a response is conscious.
As easy as it is to re-act to any given situation - to act out the same energy that is being projected towards us - , it is just as easy, and in the long run more beneficial, to respond.
However, there is one key ingredient needed if one is wanting to respond.
That ingredient is ; AWARENESS.
The Conscious Mind is Like the tip of an iceberg, while the unconscious mind is that part of the iceberg that remains beneath the surface.
If we want to become aware of the undetermined processes that cause us to react, what we need to do is become aware of the unconscious mind - the part of the mind that is beneath the surface of our awareness.
What we need to do then, is take our point of awareness ( the conscious mind) , and plunge into the depths of the unconscious mind.
In doing so, we become aware of the processes that make up the unconscious mind - and learn to control them.
This simply means becoming aware of our unconscious preconceptions, outdated and buried beliefs.
These factors, in truth, are only unconscious because we have not become conscious of them.
And so, if we simply seek to be aware, we shall find ourselves becoming aware.
As we become aware of the various factors that make up our unconscious mind, we bring the unconscious into the conscious ; we become conscious.
This is akin to a light turning on within our minds, where we become enlightened of the processes which direct our intentions, and actions.
Although it can take a very long time to master the unconscious mind, responding appropriately is as simple as being aware.
As long as we can observe our thoughts and scrutinize them, we can control our actions.
As long as we can become aware of the unconscious forces that are directing our emotions, thoughts, and beliefs ; we can control our actions.
All it takes is becoming aware of the situation, becoming aware of our minds, and becoming aware of our choices to appropriately respond to ANY situation.
Awareness is the key to an appropriate response.
Right sight beckons Right action - coloured content.
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