Emotion Regulation

One thing that helped me a lot is emotion regulation. It's the skill where you can choose whether to continue having your emotion or regulate it (dampen it or change it into other emotion) when it doesn't align with your goal. It can be done through many ways, the most common is through narrative reframing.

All emotions have a purpose and you don't necessarily have to be happy all the time. Pain tell you somethings is wrong with your body. Regret helps you make better decision. But often as human we dwell on certain emotion for too long that it affect us negatively (e.g can't focus, lashing out or getting angry on other, no motivation to work).

The goal for emotion regulation to me is to notice your emotion quickly when it start to negatively affect you. Then quickly do a certain protocol to regulate the emotion. These protocol are habits or activities that you have to discover over the years that can trigger/resolve specific emotions.

For example mine are:

• Overwhelmed

  • Write down all tasks and and break it down
  • Braindumping

• Unmotivated

  • Watch inspiring videos
  • Listen to music
  • Write down or review goals

• Sad

  • Escapism (read books/novel or watch movies)
  • Get into flow inducing activity (Play games)
  • Writing to process emotion
  • Narrative reframing (find the good in bad & optimism)

• Envy/Comparison

  • Think of people less fortunate of me and be grateful
  • Review my past achievements, struggles and my own goal

• I'll update this writing with more when i remember