Non-reactivity
Our minds automatically judge every single thing we experience in life. We label things, on a subconscious level, as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
Generally, we strive to have more of the ‘good’ things in life and less of the ‘bad’. In Buddhism, this constant craving for the good, and the aversion to the bad, is the root cause of all human suffering.
Non-reactivity is the practice of allowing everything you experience in life, to pass through you, without passing judgement. This includes thoughts, emotions and external experiences.
Importance of non-reactivity
Non-reactivity allows you to stop being a slave to your cravings and dislikes. It allows you to no longer dictate your actions based upon your thoughts and feelings. You are free to behave in the way you truly wish to behave, and not in the way your fearful mind would prefer you to behave.
How can I practise non-reactivity?
The best way to practise non-reactivity is through meditation. Non-reactivity meditation involves learning to sit and observe everything you experience in a neutral manner. Sit down and close your eyes. And observe. That’s it! It sounds simple but can be incredibly difficult. You will experience urges to move, daydreams, negative thoughts and emotions. Just sit and observe, without judging. If your mind starts judging, notice that too. Any thought is neutral. Including those thoughts judging the meditation! To learn more about this style of meditation, research ‘Vipassana’ or speak to our Wellbeing practitioners; several of them have done 10-day silent Vipassana retreats.
Here’s an example of non-reactivity in real life:
Imagine a scenario where you have to give a very difficult presentation at work and your job lies in the balance. Usually, you would experience certain feelings such as anxiety or heart palpitations, and certain thoughts such as “I can’t do this, this is too much”. You would automatically label these thoughts and emotions as ‘bad’. You would resist them and work yourself up even more trying to not feel them. By the time the presentation comes, you’ve worried yourself so much that you’ve had several sleepless nights and are in a terrible state on the day. What if your view of those feelings and thoughts were “These are all simply neutral, neither good nor bad. I am happy to experience them”. How would that outcome change? Suddenly, there is nothing to resist. So you let everything flow through you. You understand that you mind and body are simply alerting you of perceived danger; but there is nothing to be scared of. Everything in life is neutral. So you allow them all to be, and you approach the presentation in a calm and measured way, while being aware of the tingly feelings and some thoughts popping up.
Problems that can be alleviated through non-reactivity meditation
- Stress
- Relationship problems
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Angry outburst
- Rash decision making
- Overthinking
What are the risks?
It is easy to feel apathetic when you imagine practising this non-reactivity meditation. . However, the opposite is true. You may feel like “what’s the point”.
Our Treatments and Price List
Varies depending on the practitioner. Please see our practitioners to book a consultation call and find out more.
If you would like to discuss Wellbeing treatments, please get in touch with a member of our team
