Why We React the Way We Do
Have you ever noticed how a small comment, tone, or glance can stir something much bigger inside you?
Maybe your chest tightens, your heart races, or you feel a sudden wave of defensiveness.
In those moments, it can seem as though someone else has caused your reaction — yet what’s really happening runs much deeper.
These moments are energetic reflections — mirrors showing us what within still requries acknowledgment, understanding, or care.
When Emotions Take Over
When we’re triggered, our reaction often feels disproportionate to the situation.
The emotion (energy) isn’t only about what’s happening right now — it’s connected to something older: a memory, a belief, or an unmet need that still lives in the body and our energetic field.
Our bodies and energy fields naturally aim to protect and maintain balance.
When we function on autopilot, that protective energy can shift into defence.
We contract, resist, or justify — anything to avoid what feels uncomfortable, rather than asking, “What awareness is this energy offering me?”
The Mirror Moment
Think of it this way: if you look in a mirror and notice a blemish, you wouldn’t blame the mirror for showing it to you.
The mirror simply reflects what’s already there.
Our emotional (energetic) world works the same way.
Every person and situation that “triggers” us is simply reflecting something within us that wants our attention — an old story, fear, or belief asking to be seen.
Once we stop blaming the reflection, we can begin listening to it.
Real-Life Reflections
When someone’s confidence irritates us, it may reveal a part of us longing to feel that same self-assurance.
When a friend’s distance hurts, it might highlight our deeper need for connection or security.
When we feel dismissed or criticised, it may trigger an old belief that we are not enough.
These are not coincidences — they’re invitations to know ourselves more deeply.
The Shift: From Reaction to Reflection
In those moments, awareness becomes our compass.
Instead of reacting, we can pause, breathe, and ask:
“What is this moment showing me about me?”
“What part of me is asking to be seen, heard, or cared for?”
This practice transforms emotional (energetic) turbulence into information.
We move from judgment to curiosity, from blame to compassion, and from reactivity to choice.
Compassionate Inquiry: The Practice of Gentle Exploration
Compassionate inquiry means meeting our reactions with kindness instead of criticism.
It’s about getting curious rather than defensive — asking gentle, open questions that invite understanding instead of control.
It sounds like:
“What am I aware of here?”
“Who does this belong to?”
“What energy can I be to change this with ease?”
“What else is possible?”
By interacting with our reality this way, we begin to see that triggers aren’t obstacles — they’re openings.
The Gift(s) Beneath the Trigger
Each trigger is a teacher.
They guide us back to parts of ourselves that are ready to integrate and heal.
As we practice seeing life as a mirror, every challenge becomes a chance to reconnect with our wholeness.
To respond rather than react, to soften rather than resist, and to grow in awareness and compassion.
At TrueForYou, we support people in transforming reactivity into self-understanding and empowered awareness, helping each person unhook from conditioned patterns and start consciously creating the life they truly desire.
If you’d like to explore this work further, you can book a session — online or in person — and begin discovering what your reflections are truly showing you.