A “trigger” can be thought of as anything that produces an emotional response within ourselves. When we are triggered in a good way, we enjoy the experience. When triggered negatively, we often pay extra special attention. When life hands you a negative trigger, think of it as an opportunity. Be willing to do some investigation with the intention to learn more about it. For any emotional trigger, ask yourself the following questions.
Can I change what happened? I know that most people will answer that question with a resounding, “YES.” If that were true, you would have done whatever you did differently at the time. You would not be talking about how you could have acted differently. We suffer because we wish we could have or should have done something differently. In reality we did what we did and it will not change no matter how many times we try to correct the event in our minds. This keeps us locked in our past where we perpetuate our emotional suffering. We cannot move forward with our lives unless we can allow the wounds of regret to heal.
Ask yourself, “Am I the feelings that I am experiencing, or am I that which is aware of what I am feeling? With a bit of reflection on this question you will begin to realize that you are that which is aware of what you feel. You are not the feelings you experience. Think about it this way. When you experience a feeling, when the feeling disappears do you disappear with it? You (as awareness) remain while feelings come and go.
When you spend time with this question, you will start to develop less personal involvement with your emotions. You will always continue to experience them, but they will become less prominent in your attention. This will give you greater access to your true nature which is peace, and your responses to life will change for the better as you begin to not be so impacted by “negative” emotions.
Discover the messages you are sending to you about yourself that cause you to experience emotional pain. So often we talk negatively about ourselves. “I must be an awful person.” “I am not good at this.” “I always do the wrong thing.” While it is true that we do make mistakes and everyone at one time or another is “an awful person,” is it always true? Is it fair to us to make blanket negative statements that hurt? What happens to you when you believe those negative statements? What happens when you take less stock in them as truths?
This brings me to the last question you can ask yourself. Ask yourself, “Is what I am feeling bringing me peace?” If the answer is, “no” you must look at what you are feeling. Ask yourself how would I feel if l allowed myself to feel the exact opposite of what I am feeling right now. Next, spend some time alternating between what you feel and the polar opposite. Notice what happens over time when you do.
Emotional triggers are never a bad thing. Use the ideas presented here and see how they can serve you in a way that will allow you to grow and change for the better. Without the pain of a trigger, we would never expose the false beliefs we have about ourselves or be able to wake up from the dream we call life and continue to suffer.
