What is an "emotional trigger?" Simply put, it’s a deliberate act that can stir your emotions and change the way you feel. It can be a very powerful and effective technique if you understand how and when to use it.
Different triggers will work for different people. Your main trigger might be a love letter from your spouse, a card from your child, or a passage from your favorite book. Your triggers are personal, as unique as you are.
One of my most powerful triggers is music…words and sounds that speak to my soul and affect the way I feel. I’ve created a special tape that I use if I sense my attitude heading in the wrong direction. On this tape are three songs, and each has a very personal meaning. I’ll get in the car, put in the tape, turn it up as loud as my eardrums can manage, and then…sing along. And by the way, even if you can’t sing (and I definitely can’t), singing along is key, because hearing and expressing the words has a "double barrel" effect on attitude.
Try it. Make your own personal tape or CD to stir your soul when stirring is needed. Here’s one important key, however…use it sparingly, only when you need it, or it will lose its effect.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I was thinking that a lot of people do this in reverse. They sit and listen to melancholy, depressing songs stirring up feelings that depress them even more.
This week I was challenged on my attitude. Currently my boss has been headed in a different direction to the office and I’ve found myself frustrated by his lack of communication. When he gets like this the only way I have found to get his attention and make him talk to me is to have a bad attitude. I feel like a spoiled child but other attempts to get his attention (such as point blank asking questions, writing him personal notes, banging my head against the wall) gets no response at all or worse an hour long lecture that never hits any one certain point, and usually ends up making me even more confused. I am anxious to try the music idea, but was wondering if there might be any suggestions on how to get my boss to communicate with me without having to get to the point of frustration and bad attitude.
I agree with the emotional triggers for mothers day I just buy a card that has meaning for my mother and she becomes so happy and makes her cry. I have my cd that i listen to so i can calm down and relax. Music is a really great emotional trigger.
when i feel like my attitude is going in the wrong direction i choose to read the bible because it tend to brighten my mood and gives me insight on things.
i think its a very good technique to listen and sing along loud with a happy song it really does change your attitude. Next time you’re in a bad mood try it.
Having a selection of songs can be a great trigger to help with your attitude if it seems to go in the wrong direction. I use music all the time to help with that. My friends can be my triggers as well. Sometimes we all need the right people or the right music to help cope with our emotions.
i think that emotions are a great way to see into the soul of people and into the soul of other people. it is also a great way to start conversations and help others get over their own problems by connecting with them at the emotional level.
Having been a middle school teacher, understanding emotional triggers is so important. It’s amazing how the tone of a group can change just by one comment, one story, the entrance of one person. We worked hard as a class to understand how certain emotions affected each person, putting on a variety of music and reflecting on how it made us feel, setting up risk-free participation processes, and using brain-based theory to make the best out of our learning environment. All of these “touchy-feely” activities made a world of difference in how we felt in class. Too bad most of the leadership groups I interact with don’t take as much notice!