Reactivity. When we’re reactive—reverting to knee-jerk, emotionally disproportionate behavior—the wounded child in us is taking center stage, showing up through our speech, movements, intentions, and manner of relating. We’re on autopilot and usually very resistant to admitting or being told that we’re being reactive, even when we know better. The charge, or amplified excitation, that we have at such times, originating in our early years, is very strong and can easily override our capacity to embody a saner direction, if we let it.
