Weekly: How we feel
Old Happy: I am controlled by my emotions.
New Happy: I learn from my emotions.
It's safe to say that, at some point this weekend, you’re going to have an emotional reaction to an event in your life or in the world around you. That’s okay. That’s what humans do: we feel things.
But what humans can also do, though, is learn about how to respond to these feelings in a wiser, more compassionate way, using a simple two-step process: 1) Honor and accept your reaction; and 2) Look at your reaction from other perspectives.
We don’t need to dismiss, suppress, or deny our emotions — but they do not have to control our lives or direct our behaviors, either.
Here are some simple ways to put this into practice.
Step One: Accept the response
Focus on your breathing for a few minutes
Name your feelings as they come up ("I am experiencing anger...")
Have a shower or bath
Grab an object you use to center yourself
Get some physical space from the event
Give yourself a hug or offer yourself some other form of physical soothing
Acknowledge that you are in pain and that it’s hard right now
Step Two: Look at your response from other perspectives
Talk to a friend or support system about what happened
Journal about your feelings
Go for a walk or get some movement in
Try to reconstruct the experience from a distanced perspective, as though someone was videotaping what happened
Challenge your immediate thoughts, asking “What did I miss?” or "Where might I be jumping to conclusions?"
Identify what other factors may have contributed to your response (perhaps you are tired, lonely, overwhelmed...) and how you might proactively address them in the future.
Ask yourself, “What do I need in this moment to move forward?”
Tips and Tools
1. Not one thing — This week's animation.
2. Make it — For those wanting to pursue their potential.
3. What you're expecting — Take a weight off.
4. How to truly connect — The six steps.
5. Many paths — Open your mind to other possibilities.
More from TNH
Book — Order New Happy today to find true happiness.
Podcast — Get a daily morning pep talk — in five minutes or less
Speaking — Book us to speak to your team about well-being, resilience, and productivity.
Articles — Read more articles on our website.
Community
How do you center yourself?
"Listening to music."
"Playing video games helps me calm down!"
"Going for a long walk and just looking at nature."
"Jumping up and down a few times."
"I paint."
"Talking to my best friend."
Before You Go
The Definitive Guide to Happiness
A groundbreaking new approach based on a decade’s worth of research and brought to life with beautiful artwork, New Happy shows you the proven path to happiness.
No spam, just joy.
