What is Emotion: 2. Emotion is only a state of being

Understand that emotion is only a state of being, with effects that depend on our responses

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It’s important to remember that emotions are mental responses based on how we feel

about certain stimuli. They are states of mind that can be managed, altered, and overcome. Often, our emotional responses are pre-conditioned responses shaped by society, our past experiences, upbringing, worldview and beliefs — all of which shape our personalities and personal versions of reality.

It’s quite common to react to a stimulus without consciously thinking of how to respond. Just think of how someone with a fear of snakes would scream if they encountered a snake on a hike, or a toy snake thrown at them as a prank!

The ways in which #emotions are expressed and recognised are often through belief, language, behavior and action. Using those same four channels, we can learn how to tune

and control how we respond, just like changing the volume of a speaker.

Emotions come in spectrums of intensity and energy, from mild to wild and high to low.

The key to tuning in is being aware and conscious on how we feel and what we are doing

to respond, rather than going on autopilot and reacting without thought. This is the main

difference between being in control of our emotions (#active) versus being controlled by

them (#reactive).

When you’re not in control of your emotions, you also cannot control how powerful they

are, and/or how often they may overcome you. It’s like being stuck on a rollercoaster and

being forced to experience the highs and lows over and over again without any ability to

stop the carriage, get off, or steer the direction of the ride.

An example of how to take control over your reactions:

I was bitten by a snake at a young age. I grew up with a fear of snakes.

A. Unconscious reaction: Every time I see a snake, I am overcome by fear and may act

in a blind panic.

B. Conscious reaction: When I see a snake, I can think of ways to deal with it. Maybe I

can ask someone nearby for help, find a safe path to retreat, or tell myself to calm

down

“Pre-conditioned responses may be automatic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train yourself to react to them differently. This can be done through being conscious of your thoughts, decisions, and actions.”

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