Article February 4, 2019 ISSUE

Getting beyond knee-jerk reactions

Liz Butterfield Wallingford

It’s a typical day. Nothing too unusual. Things are going OK until you hear something so outrageous or disconcerting—maybe a statement in the news, an assertion on social media, or a rumor at school or work—that you quickly respond with anger or discouragement. Sound familiar?

As justified as a knee-jerk reaction may seem in the moment, letting indignation get the better of us doesn’t usually end well. Rather, it distracts us from digging deep to discover the facts, perpetuates inharmony, and clouds the spirit of thoughtfulness that leads to progress.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The living Word of the Bible