The Last Act: Choosing Kindness Over Reaction
What would you do if someone told you “No”? Would you react defensively, or would you move forward and exercise your faith? Most people would rather push their way through when it comes to the things they want or believe they should have, and in some cases this may be a good alternative—but not so much when dealing with people. As the old saying goes, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” (although I must say I’m not too proud of that statement, being a cat lover myself). The point I’m making is that kindness will get you much further than rudeness.
One day I was short on cash and had to be somewhere quickly, so I went to the store where I knew an ATM was provided for customers. I have to admit I don’t regularly go to an ATM—I prefer to go to the bank, not only because it’s safer but also because you don’t get hit with ATM fees. As I was fumbling with the machine, a woman behind me spoke in a, well, not-so-kind voice, asking me if I was using the machine. Clearly I was using it—everyone in the store looked up as her voice projected throughout the space.
Although I wasn’t finished and was in a hurry myself, I turned and looked at her, lowered my voice, and asked her if she needed the machine. She blurted out, “Yes!” I took a step back and allowed her to use the machine.
Yes, I could have ignored her or even matched her energy. Instead, I chose to let her go ahead of me. I could see the look on everyone’s faces—some were shocked, some were impressed with what had just taken place.
The moral of the story is this: “No” can be changed into a “yes” in the most gentle way.
Not only did I say no to her energy, I said yes to myself—allowing my nervous system to stay in a moment of calm, enabling me to enjoy the rest of my day. Who knows what that lady was dealing with? One can never know. One thing I do know is I can only control me, and that’s all I need.
So the next time you are being overlooked or treated unkindly, remember: how you react is all on you. You have the power to choose peace over chaos, kindness over conflict, and faith over fear.
This is your last act of power—choosing who you will be in every moment.
Hugs,
Elizabeth
For more posts like this, visit www.ElizabethMagicalGarden.com
Peace, Love and Blessings Lovelies Xoxo.
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