What are you really responding to? Part 1

Hey friend,

Over the weekend, I found myself in a situation where two different people said something in a way that felt rude.

And I noticed my reaction.
It was immediate. Strong. Instinctive. Rude.

Around the same time, coincidentally, I had also experienced some mini tension with a friend. And in processing both situations, I began to see a pattern.

Sometimes, we do not just hear what is said to us.
We hear it through what has happened to us.

Our insecurities. Our past experiences. Our pet peeves.
All of these can influence how we interpret tone, words, and intention.
So, someone might say something with a certain meaning, but we receive it through a completely different lens.

And then we react, not just to what was said, but to what it triggered.

That realisation was important.
Because it showed me that not every reaction is only about the present moment. Sometimes, it is about what the event reminds us of.

And that is where self-awareness begins.

Question:
What are you really reacting to?