Train Your Perceptions – 2

We have been talking about modulating your emotions, monitoring them to reduce the intensity and length of an emotional outburst, mainly as applied to anger.  Another tool of Executive Function is focusing, shifting of attention of tasks.  When we experience a flood of emotion, such as from the fury of another person, we have a choice, react, respond in kind at the same level of intensity, or shift our response to a more moderate level.  However, the time we have to recognize and act on this is super short – maybe even less than a second.  We tend towards quick reactions, emotional outbursts that respond at the same level of anger as we receive.  A higher level of consciousness requires that we pause and shift our attention away from anger.  If possible, we may even turn our attention to a completely different focus.

If we are attacked by someone verbally, we need a phrase, a trigger that will allow us to tap into our more rational thinking.  I have a friend who says that anger is nothing more than temporary insanity.  I agree, because often after we say angry things to someone else, we regret them.  Then we must follow up with an apology, and often things are never the same between us.  Far better is it to have a catchphrase such as “I am in control of my anger right now,” that will give us just a moment of pause that we need.  Then, move forward with a more appropriate response.  We may still be very direct in our response, but less insulting, less exaggerated in our remarks.  Catch yourself being good by taking a moment to redirect your anger, others will not only thank you, but they will also realize that you have a higher level of consciousness than they do.

A second idea concerning modulating our emotions includes the redirection of our attention to something else.  You read something that someone writes to you or about you that makes you angry.  Please read it, understand it, and then pause to think about it before responding.  If you are upset, redirect your attention to something more pleasant, like your morning cup of coffee or a previous conversation with your significant other earlier in the day.  By focusing on this energy as something that could potentially cause problems, then sustaining that focus and redirecting it to something else, when you choose to make a response, it stands a much better chance of being more appropriate, at that higher level of consciousness.

I want to encourage readers Today to continue their efforts concerning the Training of Your Perceptions to include this pause, sustaining, and redirecting your thoughts.  You will enter a higher level of consciousness in which others will recognize and credit you.

Would you mind reading Three Ways to Regulate Your Emotions at 3 Ways to Regulate Your Emotions | Psychology Today

For additional insights, please see Parenting Tips for Teenagers: Tip #1: Understanding Resilience — THE KIDS SUCCESS

Yours for a Better Life,

Rich