Human beings are equipped with many spectacular features. We have cognitive thinking skills and opposable thumbs. Our stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve metal. Speaking of stomachs, if we had to remove the stomach, spleen, one kidney, 80% of the intestines and 75% of the liver we could still survive.

We also have emotions. Tons of them. And for some, it’s hard to regulate emotions and react appropriately under certain circumstances. A simple trigger for someone who has difficulty managing emotions might send them into a tailspin; we are talking a complete mental breakdown.

Whereas another person who successfully controls emotions could have a completely different, and much more sensible, reaction. It would seem logical to fight emotions which might bring on an unwanted reaction, however that’s not really dealing with them. Continue reading →

Picture being out on a nice stroll. It’s a beautiful evening and the sunset is revealing lovely blue and pink hues. Then, all the sudden, while passing a neighbor’s yard, an enormous dog comes storming up to the fence line, running back and forth and barking aggressively. This is what one does when being emotionally reactive.

People are flooded with feelings and emotions all day long. And for some of us, when we see something we don’t really like or that goes against our values, we react somewhat like a savage. It’s an unconscious delivery and already in motion before we have a chance to get control.

This type of reaction causes much more strife than it’s worth. Being held captive to our emotions is a slippery slope. This isn’t limited to road rage and controversial conversations. Continue reading →