Been reading a lot on the sympathetic response of the nervous system and natural human affinity towards “fight” or “flight”. The study has prompted me to analyze how my frontal cortex responds to daily upheaval, challenge, and raised adrenaline. It’s also prompted me to ask another question which I shared with our staff today.
What are your TRIGGERS?
Triggers are the elements, conversations, viewing habits, or external developments that prompt a raised internal emotional response. You know, the things that make your heart beat faster, stomach knot, or blood boil!
The reason “trigger analyzation” is so valuable is once we learn what sets us off we can choose 1) how to respond and 2) if we’ll choose to continue being around that trigger. Sometimes its good to be triggered, specifically in love, so we can learn reproof and growth. Other times these triggers are consistent and habitual damages that can be avoided!
A few things I’ve noticed that trigger me in different ways (no particular order):
- Facebook news feed (negative)
- Talking to a hero (positive)
- Talking with family members (various)
- Talking money or budgets (negative)
I love that Scripture talks so much about balance (truth & kindness – Proverbs 3) because KINDNESS is the natural response when I want to FIGHT while TRUTH is the best response when I want FLIGHT! Learning to assess my natural triggers can allow me the time and understanding to respond with Christ-like character in any situation, but it takes work (Proverbs 17:27-28).