You Will Respond

You always respond even if you don't offer one. Find out a productive way of responding in this week's Grasshopper Notes essay from John Morgan for the week of October 7th.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

You Will Respond

When presented with a stimulus, you will respond. Even a non-response is a response. It’s the “push gets a pull” dynamic at work. So what does this mean to you?

It means, when presented with a stimulus, you get a choice. Many of our choices are automatic. They’re conditioned reactions. For example, if every time someone says “black,” you say “white,” that’s a conditioned reaction. It’s as natural as breathing to you.

But suppose that conditioned reaction is getting in your way? 

First, notice it, as it’s happening, and then reel it in. Using the black/white example, if your automatic reaction to “black” is “white,” after you react, choose to correct yourself and respond with “blue,” or “red,” or any other color of the rainbow.

Side note: There is a difference between a reaction and a response. A reaction is often automatic with no thought. A response takes some thought on your part and offers you a menu of choices.

That’s the beauty of responses, you get a bevy of options to offer back to the stimulus.

If you’ve been in a relationship for more than a minute, you can predict with laser accuracy how your partner will react to something specific you’ve said or done many times before. The reverse is also true. They can predict your reaction too.

So here’s what to do: The next time your partner offers you a predictable stimulus, instead of reacting, pause, and wait for a list of alternate choices from your mind. These are responses. Select one of them and offer it back to their stimulus. 

Here’s what’ll happen: you’ll throw a monkey wrench into that communication. It’ll go somewhere different than it has countless times before, and you’ll communicate about something new, rather than the old, predictable fat you normally chew.

But the real message here is you have a choice to any given stimulus. You don’t have to go down the same, dead end hallway you been down before, because when you respond you have the option to open a different door.

Bottom line: You will respond, but you now have a choice.

All the best,

John