Regulation
Regulation is the process of influencing one's emotions, arousal, attention, and behavior to suit the situation and goals.
Definition
Regulation does not mean having full control over how you feel. It involves recognizing the condition, selecting a strategy, lowering or increasing arousal, and returning to action consistent with values. It may concern emotions, body, thoughts, attention and impulses.
Key ideas
- Recognizing the condition
- Selection of strategy
- Back to action
Practice and life
Make a list of three regulation strategies: one for the body, one for the thoughts, and one for the environment. Test them under light stress before the big crisis comes.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to expect regulation to remove emotions. It is also a mistake to use avoidance as the only strategy.
> Regulation is not about turning off emotions, but about regaining influence over the response.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What condition am I trying to regulate?
- Which strategy works in the short term and which in the long term?
- How will I know when I am regaining balance?