James O’Dea is author of The Conscious Activist—where activism meets mysticism. Read more about his explorations with reconciliation, forgiveness and restorative justice.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by the difference between spontaneous reaction and spontaneous resonance? Can you share a personal story of a time you felt spontaneous resonance? How do we get over 'the stuff going on in our heads that blocks the flow of spontaneity?'
Spontaneous reaction is something that we do - spontaneous resonance is something that we feel .
Walking. When you don't know the answer, when you don't know what to do next -- and the not knowing is the stuff in the head that is blocking the flow -- maybe walking can help. Not walking to churn over the questions in your mind, rather walking with full attention on what is right before you. This is what occurs to me the last few days. Walking on the beach, I have felt a resonance with a certain place so strongly that I have stopped there unsure what to do but to stop there and allow myself to hum with the same frequency.
Spontaneous reaction must be that moment when you completely relate to a situation or story........there is an outside influence from the thing or person you resonate with and/or the memory .......I completely relate to that because I have had some experience of it in the past...........whereas spontaneous resonance is more like Joy it bursts out of you and makes you connect to the situation willingly.............with a strength or power that can even surprise you. x
Spontaneous reaction is an unplanned impulsive behavior to change what is happening, such as a spontaneous effort to catch someone who is falling or spontaneously objecting to something I don't agree with. Spontaneous resonance is an unplanned feeling of synchrony or harmony with what is happening, such as spontaneously feeling fully in agreement with and in tune with and one with what someone is saying or doing. I have many times felt spontaneous resonance to something someone has said or done. Such are moments of unity and love. I have sometimes felt that resonance with teachers and mentors and simply other persons, and it's a very positive feeling. Judgmentalness, preconceived notions, premeditated biases, expectations, rules, and fear all block the flow of spontaneity, and being open, present, and accepting of myself get me over all that 'stuff' that blocks the flow.