Doubt the negative reaction. When we find ourselves a captive of a negative reaction, we don't presently see that we've stepped into a trap that is sprung by our own willingness to go along with the conclusion in that reaction. Our identification with the reaction strengthens the belief that our perception of the moment is all there is. We possess the capacity to be so present when a negative reaction starts to appear that we can be there before the identification that follows the reaction. In other words, we have the capacity to see the trap and understand its machinations before we step into it. The only way to escape the reaction trap is to outgrow the nature that creates it. When you start to feel the tightening grip of an unwanted moment, step back a little bit and instead of blindly following the reaction's conclusion, do your best to doubt the negative reaction and its perception of the moment. The task is to see and realize that the perceived cause of the feeling of captivity is not the real cause. Remember that who you really are can't be made a captive of anything.