953: How Interpretation Plays A Role In Stress And Anxiety

Published: Aug. 20, 2023, 1 p.m.

In today's episode, Gina discusses how we can use deliberate interpretation to steer our response to various life events and stimuli in the environment in a way that benefits us psychologically. If we don't take active measures to proactively interpret the various factors in our environment, we will continue to succumb to our fear based anxiety response. Listen in for strategies to interpret things in ways that will make you feel better!\nPlease visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!\nhttps://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/\nThank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast.\nFind even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/\nHere's what's included for $5/month:\n\u2764 New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday\n\u2764 Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes\n\u2764 Premium meditations recorded with you in mind\n\u2764 And more fun surprises along the way!\nAll this in your favorite podcast app!\nTo learn more go to:\nhttps://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com\nJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program\xa0\nLearn more about our One-on-One Coaching\nWhat is anxiety?\nQuote:\nYou don't have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.\n-Dan Millman\nChapters\n0:00:24 Exploring the Role of Interpretation in Stress and Anxiety\n0:01:12 Understanding the Pathway of Emotions\n0:01:19 Understanding the Pathway of Emotions\n0:04:30 Taking the Reins: Making Conscious Choices\n0:08:12 Interpretation: Where We Have Control over Our Emotions\n0:14:21 The Power of Thoughts and Body Chemistry\n0:15:02 The Fear-Adrenaline-Fear Loop and Impulsive Behavior\n0:17:12 Mastering the Art of Mind Control\nSummary\nIn this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, we delve into the impact of interpretation on stress and anxiety. We begin by discussing a powerful quote from Dan Millman that reminds us not to let our thoughts control us. Many people are unaware of the consistent pathway that emotions follow, with our subconscious mind often seemingly bringing emotions out of the blue. However, once these emotions enter our consciousness, we have the power to take control.\n\nWe reference Michelle Rosenthal's book, "Heal Your PTSD," which outlines the evolution of emotion and the pathway they follow: stimulus, interpretation, thought, physiological response, feeling, impulse to act, and psychological response. It becomes evident that the point of control lies at the interpretation stage, where we have the opportunity to assess the meaning of the stimulus in a way that serves us. By intercepting negative interpretations and engaging our minds at an early stage, we can effectively manage our emotions.\n\nTo drive this point home, we encourage listeners to focus on identifying their interpretations and reflect upon past situations to gain a better understanding of their emotional responses. We highlight the transformative potential of changing our interpretation of events, emphasizing that it can have a significant impact on our mindset and how we navigate our daily lives.\n\nWe offer practical strategies for shifting our interpretations. By asking ourselves questions like "What interpretation would make me feel better?" or "How could I have looked at this differently?", we can learn to shift our focus and create the scenarios we desire. Cultivating a sense of self-care and inner strength becomes easier and stronger with practice. It allows us to tap into our empowerment when challenges arise, enabling us to catch and shift our interpretations of situations and diffuse feelings of powerlessness.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices