Lost luggage? Crappy traffic?

These simple experiences can bring out a myriad of responses in many different peeps. These instances bring out  "The Reaction."

Many people say, it's "human nature" or it's my "natural" response.

And I say: Ptttthhhhhhttt.

Outside of running from lions or fighting off an attacking grizzly, we've learned the majority of our "natural" responses at a young age. Parents, society, TV -- all sorts of sources have influenced our behavior and communication style. This, of course, is not ground-breaking news. How to dismantle these patterns, however, is a bit more chat-worthy.

A big challenge I'm often confronted with is my love affair with reactionary living and my addiction to auto-responses.

Sheesh, when someone else is crabby how I love to take it personally and pout.When I'm running late how I love to blame the idiot driver in front of me... And now? When I stop to look around? I realize: I'm tired of living this way. I'm bored with my huffy reactions and want to slip into something a bit more comfortable. But how? We all make choices on how we communicate and engage with the world ... and it's hard to see a higher road when we're deep in the rut we've been walking through our whole lives ... so, one idea I'm going to try?

Stop and look at that very rut  -- the one I might be knee-deep in at the very moment I react. Is my reaction a way of protecting myself? Something based in fear? In insecurity? How has it served me in the past and what newer, lighter, more beneficial option could serve me from now on?

These questions are easy to ask ... not always easy to answer. But I'm going to try.