What are emotional triggers?

What are emotional triggers? I absolutely love this TED talk by Diana Wais about emotional laws. Diana explains there are laws that explain our inner world and the world of interpersonal dynamics.

We all react differently to triggering events, based on what Diane calls “a receptor field” inside of us that interacts with the trigger. This is often outside our conscious awareness, and we may not realise it is there.

We can learn not to react out of a triggered state, but instead to remain centred and respond with kindness. The three steps to achieve this are:

1 – Awareness

2 – Avoid getting triggered yourself

3 – Respond to the other person’s needs

There are three cardinal mistakes we often make from a triggered state:

1 – Become defensive

2 – Stop listening

3 – Lose control

Our emotional brain can and will override our rational brain.

Next time we become triggered we should try asking ourselves four questions:

1 – What is getting triggered in me?

2 – What am I afraid of?

3 – What is underneath that?

4 – What do I need to heal in me to stop me reacting this way in future?

We can use these steps to identify our own emotional receptor fields and heal them, so we don’t get triggered so easily in future. This allows us to have more genuine curiosity and compassion for other people when responding to criticism, which helps us to diffuse situations.

Project 365

I set up this website after deciding that I want to build a more creative life for myself, so I can give up my job and be in control of my own destiny.

I have set myself a goal of publishing an article on my website every day this year, to document my journey from employment to self-employment.

The name I chose was Project 365 because I see this as a year that I have dedicated to learning and self-development, as I countdown to freedom. It started on 1st January 2021, so I have 179 days to go!