Objective 2: Identifying Obstacles Toward Changing Emotions

This week's objective requires a little more introspection than last week by examining the function of emotions. Why do we experience guilt? Is it because we have done something wrong, or is it because we have been taught not to be angry or assertive...thus we feel guilty when we are those things? Deriving the function of your emotion will help you take a step to changing your behaviors.

According to Ms. Linehan's book, there are a handful of primary emotions, such as anger, sorrow, guilt, joy, anger, shame, fear, surprise, etc. These emotions serve to inform us more on how we feel about a situation. Secondary emotions come from learned reactions, such as feeling guilty because you feel angry. Or feeling guilty for being happy. How about feeling disgusted at yourself for feeling sad? Anyone? I know I've experienced that one a few times...

Emotions are reactions to situations that we encounter in life. Sometimes one event can trigger a strong emotion, and it is human nature to feel that emotion the next time that same event is encountered. This week, though, allow yourself to question whether you really need to have that emotion for that event... Sometimes the emotion is legitimate and you should always act on it -- such as fear when encountering a tiger in a jungle. Sometimes; however, your emotion is just a part of a cycle that you have the power to break if only you allow yourself to reach past the emotion and question the function, the purpose, of it.

This week, don't focus on changing anything. Just build yourself a good foundation for the change. Allow yourself to question your emotions and where they are coming from. Do they need to be there? Could the situation turn out differently than the emotion dictates?

I'm sorry this post is a little obscure...this is a difficult objective for me to understand, much less explain. Hopefully I've done a decent job and it's somewhat helpful. Thanks for reading!