Here's what to do when you're triggered

When we are triggered, our mind starts spinning dreadful stories about the current situation, and that's what's causing that reaction.

So if we can teach ourselves in that moment to see that story as separate and to observe that story as something our ego is telling us, then over time we get to show up in that moment and choose to respond in a new way by choosing a new narrative.

This doesn't happen overnight. The more we observe our ego, the stories, the narrative, or the meaning that we’re assigning, the more we can practice separating ourselves and making room for a new response.

You should honor the fact that your feelings are very valid in that moment. You're emotionally activated. There are hormones that are being released in your body, neurotransmitters, and energy shifts and changes, and that's real. Not only is it real in this moment, but it comes from a very real place of pain that's probably been stored and carried across your life.

So honoring that realness and those emotions as they're coming up is a big practice of self-acceptance, letting it all be okay. Give yourself time and care in that moment—be soothing to yourself, take a walk, take a bath.

By breathing, witnessing our ego, and accepting our emotions, we can release them over time and become less triggered as we evolve. When triggered, we live our lives reactively, based on our past experiences.

Practicing these steps empowers us to navigate the present moment and strong emotions in a conscious and responsive way. We can then create a space where we choose how to respond, rather than letting our wounds and past traumatic experiences dictate our actions and reactions.