Calming Your Emotions
Take the heat out of your feelings to regain focus
How to step back from your feelings to regain control
At times it’s easy to be overwhelmed by emotions. Sometimes that can be fine, we all need a good laugh or even a good cry on occasion. But when the emotions are negative ones like anxiety or anger, they can get in the way and can set off a train of bad outcomes. Being overwhelmed means you lose control and can no longer perform at your best.
Emotional Diffusion is a technique where you step back from your feelings, notice what’s going on and get a hold of them before they overwhelm you.
How to get back in control
First up: what are your personal red flags? What do you know is likely to ‘set you off’? Notice your flags, try and get ahead of the feelings and ideally take some time out. Either leave the room for a minute or two, or stop and take ten really deep breaths. Breathe out more slowly than you breathe in, so your body can calm down. When you’re calmer, it gives you an opportunity to become more rational. Being rational is much more likely to get you a better result.