Reacting Drains You—Responding Restores You

I recently started listening to a new podcast called Relish.​

And no, not the green stuff. Although my thoughts went there first too!​

​It’s hosted by Alyssia Seneik, who I first discovered through her brand Mind Over Munch, where she shared creative and healthy recipes. Now she’s branching into mindfulness, bringing that same creativity to how we think and move through life.​

One episode really hit home for me, and it made me think of you—my wonderful email community—as well as some clients I’ve worked with over the years.​
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Alyssia was talking about reacting versus responding. She explained how our brain often goes on autopilot, following the neural pathways we’ve built over a lifetime.​
These pathways can make us react automatically, instead of responding with awareness.
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I saw this in two very different clients.
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Let me explain…
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One client felt her body constantly sending signals of discomfort, tension, or pain. Every new sensation would trigger an immediate reaction—she had to “fix” it, right away. That constant reactivity drained her, both mentally and physically.
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Another client, however, approached these sensations differently. She noticed them, stayed present, and responded with curiosity and respect. Even with sustained pain, she paused, observed, and engaged with her body intentionally. There was a softness, a calm awareness, a sense of ease that came from responding instead of reacting.
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I notice this in myself too. Like many of you, there’s ongoing pain to navigate.
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It would be easy to fall into pre-programmed reactions. Instead, the practice is to pause, notice the sensations, and respond in ways that honor who I am today—not who I was yesterday.
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Try saying the words aloud:
React …
Respond…
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Notice the difference in how they feel in your body.
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“React” carries a sharpness; “respond” has a smoothness.
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The words themselves echo the processes they describe.
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This is exactly the kind of mindful awareness Alyssia teaches in Relish. By noticing our reactions and shifting to intentional responses, we can transform how we move, how we exercise, and how we relate to the signals our body sends us.
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Curious to hear more? Listen to the episode here: From Reacting to Responding: The Power of the Pause​
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Now it is time for your insight into action.
Take a moment today to consider: How does the idea of responding versus reacting feel in your body?
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Be well and happy moving,
Lisa
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P.S., Movement Rx is now open for registration—this is where we bring these same mindful principles into action in a virtual group program. Are you in?