Split Second

I can't get enough of reading and re-reading of the book "how to be sick". So much wisdom coming from author's personal experience.

The split second between the experience of an unpleasant encounter and the negative reaction to it, there is a way out of suffering. We can acknowledge the unpleasant experience and just leave it at that. Treat it as just hundreds of such unpleasant moments that will come and go. We cannot avoid the experience, getting yelled at, will no doubt be unpleasant. We can acknowledge it and not react negatively. Before we know it, we have moved on to one of the thousands of contact in a day. Why linger with hard feeling or even plot for revenge?

This is a profound realization. I understand and even able to practice this in some occasions. However, I find this hard to master. Just think about how many times I get upset in a day, I know I have way to go. I shall see the obstacles coming my way are chances for me to practice.

Today I was engaging in a conversation and thought I was being snapped it. I reacted and raised my voice. I missed the split second and suffered mentally. I realized that a few seconds later and made amend to the conversation. I shall catch all these situations and note them done.