Overreaction - What's Behind It

Does anyone overreact around you?  Do you ever overreact?

Maybe it's time to look at it in a different way.

What if the overreaction is not directly a reaction to what is at hand but to something else entirely?  An overreaction indicates that a person has extra energy that is beyond the scope of the current issue and for one reason or another that extra energy is expressed into the immediate situation.

Why would we do this?  Because we have been stuffing some energy or conflict, and now the dam has burst and it is all coming out.

With this knowledge, how would we treat someone who is overreacting?  We could be glad because the person is connecting with something they've buried and we could recognize that now they are in a position to get in touch with energy that needs clearing.  With this perspective, instead of judging and condemning them for overreacting we could simply ask if there is anything else bothering them and what else they might be feeling.  Let's get it all up and out!

If we can have the courage to meet overreaction from a place of peace and goodwill, overreactions can be deeply healing and revealing.  Be gracious, find out what is underneath that reaction.