Dealing with Difficult Emotions, Part 2

By - Content by Robert Magill, edited by Joy
11.11.22 02:00 PM

Recently, Jack was feeling extra stressed after receiving an email from his boss requiring a meeting later in the day with no reason or explanation provided.


Jack examined his emotions to try to determine some of the "why" behind what he was feeling.


He figured out the reasons for some of his big emotions, but what should he do next?


Steps to Take after Identifying the Emotions...

ASK YOURSELF...
1) Is this something that I can control or do something about? 
If the answer is yes, then determine what it is you CAN do about it.  Then develop a plan and take care of it.  Most of the time, once the trigger is addressed, the emotions will dissipate.

If the answer is no, and this is NOT something within your control, then determine what can be done to mitigate the impact it has on you. 

Removing yourself from the situation entirely may be the best option.  Other times, a good strategy is utilizing coping skills.  These skills may look different based on the situation and environment.  Work coping skills may be different than skills used at home or while driving.  The important thing is to find something that you can do to help make the situation a little bit easier. Try calling a friend, going for a jog, or immersing yourself in a hobby.  Even taking a few minutes to slow down and take some deep breaths might be enough to shift your perspective.

2) How do I prevent this from happening again?

Back to Jack...

Jack figured out the "why" behind some of the big emotions he was experiencing.  While the upcoming meeting with his boss was NOT in his control, he chose to utilize some coping skills to lessen the impact of his emotions.  He focused in on his work tasks and other work interactions for the remainder of the day until the meeting time arrived.  He acknowledged his apprehension and anxiety, but after a few calming breaths and creating a plan for his work day, he tackled his tasks and re-directed his focus to the work in the moment and not the unknown in the future.


In managing difficult emotions, first figure out what's bothering you.  Next, find a plan and tackle it.  If it's not something within your control, utilize coping skills and find acceptance.  Lastly, look ahead to determine if there are steps that you can take to prevent a repeat situation in the future.

The content above is based on the information provided from the youtube video by Robert Magill (see below); it has been edited and arranged by Joy Bundy.

Content by Robert Magill, edited by Joy

Categories -
Personal Growth
Tags -
Perception