(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)
You respond with your soul. You respond when there is no threat or at the earliest stages of a threat.
You react with your mind. You react when it’s “too late”!
Therefore, you know it’s a response if you have plenty of time to make changes, to correct something, to protect yourself, or to create something. If it’s instinctive, it’s a reaction, likely based on some threat.
You react from the ego; you respond from the heart.
Copyright 1995 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.