Reacting vs Responding: A Gentle Shift
from Art Journaling for Calm & Self-Care Hosted by Barbara Howrey
There’s a moment — sometimes tiny, sometimes charged —between what happens and how we meet it. In that space, we often slip into old patterns: tightening, bracing, rushing, shutting down, or moving on autopilot. Reacting is fast. It’s protective. It’s the nervous system doing its best to keep you safe. Responding is different. It’s slower, steadier, and rooted in awareness rather than urgency. In this episode of Art Journaling for Calm & Self‑Care, we explore the gentle shift from reacting to responding. You’ll learn how to recognize the early signs of reactivity and how to create just a little more space — enough to choose a softer, more grounded way forward. I also guide you through an art journaling activity where you bring this shift onto the page, using simple marks and color to explore what reacting feels like in your body and what responding might look like instead. If you’d like more support, check out my meditative art journal - A Garden for the Soul Journal –to gently support your creative self‑care Background music: "Peaceful Piano Background Music for Relaxation" by Nicholas Panek (Pixabay) "Zen” by Alexander MGreat, Blue Tree Audio (Soundcloud)
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