States and Emotions II

Hi Everyone

Today we continue with the concept of states.

We create our states through our perceptions and memories, we can change them through our behaviours.

Try the exercises below.

Creating States

We create states by the way we perceive the external events in the world.

We vary in the way we perceive, interpret and react to different events and that makes a difference to which state we end up in. Some of us get upset by very small events while others cope with disasters as if they were nothing.

Changing States

Being able to manage a state is important because if you are in the right state for a situation then you are more likely to achieve your outcomes.

Some of us use drugs, alcohol, sex, food, shopping to change our states. They are short term solutions and can have disastrous consequences.

The best way to alter states is to change the way you think about things.

Try this

Think of a memory where you are mildly uncomfortable say 3 or 4 on a 1-10 scale. (10 is the most uncomfortable)

Associate into it, feel it in your body, now hold onto this feeling while you jog on the spot or hop around on one foot. Most people find this hard to keep the uncomfortable feeling. (You may also try the Seagull and Jackhammer exercise)

Now break the state by counting slowly up to 10.

Now think of a calm place, a place where you are happy, where there is nothing going on. You may use the place from the guided visualisations. Now try to hold on to the calm feeling while you increase your breathing rate and bring your breath high into your chest.

Break state.

This is also known as exaggerating the mistake and shows that you do have control over your states and how quick and easy it is to change them.

Remember that many emotions especially negative ones are signals to action, that something in your life needs attention, there is a positive intent behind them. Once we experience the emotion, understand it then we can take action on it.

Elicitation

This is a technique for helping some one else move from one state to another.

The easiest way is to get them to recall a time when they felt the way they want to feel in a specific situation. For example if you need to feel confident then remember a time you did feel confident and associate to it now.

Remember a time when you felt relaxed and fully associate to it. When working with someone it helps if you model that state yourself.

Have fun and see you next time

Nevin