The Split Second that Determines your Life

“What is to give light must endure burning.” ― Victor Frankl

Life just isn't fair. Into your life will come people and circumstances that treat you with indifference and unkindness. They hurt you, even though you don't deserve to be hurt. We want people to change, to see that we deserve kindness and to treat us with respect. We wait for circumstances to go our way and lament when they don't.

Unfortunately, people seldom change and life will always be chaotic. The only real power we have is the ability to change ourselves, to rise to the challenges, to let go of things which do not serve us.

"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.”― Viktor Frankl

The split second between stimulus and response determines your life. Happy people don't only have good things happen to them, angry people don't only have bad things happen to them. When something happens to you, you have a split second to decide how you will respond to it. That decision will determine how your life will be.

Of course, it takes a lifetime of growth and experience to control that split second. You have to know yourself; your flaws, your worth and your strengths. You have to be mindful enough to recognize the moment, and make an intentional decision on your response--a tall order when we are accustomed to being reactionary.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”― Viktor Frankl

When you're suffering a loss, life can seem particularly unfair. Friends and family aren't there for you in the way you would like, your life situation may have to change and suddenly you are responsible for everything. I know I am asking you to be responsible for this too, but when you learn to control the second between stimulus and response, you are able to grasp control, to have power over the chaos and to live life on your own terms, not at the whim of circumstance.