59. Triggers

In this episode, we explore the emotional responses that arise from common, everyday triggers, focusing on how we become aware of and manage them. The conversation starts with a look at the stress of queuing at airport gates, where many of us experience heightened anxiety over small things, like whether there will be space for our luggage. Even when we know the anxiety is irrational, it persists. This leads us to reflect on how being conscious of these reactions allows us to manage them better over time, even if they remain part of our lives. We touch on various examples, from stress at the airport to dealing with unknown callers and the immediate negative reactions they evoke. We delve deeper into the concept of triggers—both positive and negative—and how they influence our energy and interactions with the world around us. For example, the feeling of anger after hitting our head or the satisfaction of seeing a free taxi can have immediate emotional impacts. These triggers shape our behaviour and, by extension, the environment we share with others. By understanding what triggers us, we can start to regulate our reactions and potentially shift how we respond. The episode closes with the idea of keeping a “trigger journal” to better recognize the patterns in our emotional responses and become more mindful of how we bring our emotional state into our interactions.