There’s a concept that I try to follow, but mess up quite a bit. It’s the idea of taking some time to choose your response. There’s a quote that goes:

“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 our freedom.”

It’s often attributed to Viktor Frankl, but there’s some debate about that. I first read it in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Either way, it’s a solid quote to live by. I had to relearn this lesson a couple of days ago when I didn’t take that space and regretted it.

The main area where I find this quote important is when something happens that changes my emotional state. Whether it’s anger, stress, or any other shift, our critical thinking and rationality can diminish.

When you’re in a state like that, it’s usually the worst time to respond. Take the space between the stimulus and response to figure out what you really want to say or do.

It will serve you well.

— Bus