ABCDE – Activating Events

ABCDE for Successful Mind Management: Activating Events

Identify the Trigger
The trigger or activating event may be visual, auditory, a smell, other feelings that sets in motion a chain that leads to you feeling bad.

What was the A of the sequence?

It was possibly stimulated by something somebody said or did, or a memory that you just had. You need to look for such words or memories as the following:

Words like “should”, “ought”, “must”, “have to”

The words “never” and “always”

Phrases starting with “what if…” and “if only…”

A key word or a small phrase

Words that make you feel discouraged and helpless

A brief mental picture, either a memory or an imagined future that makes you feel bad.



Write down that event now: