Healthy distractions

Today I want to explore a mechanism that I use a lot for coping with negative feelings: healthy distractions. Reading, watching movies, or engaging in a hobby can give temporary relief and help shift focus. Since we are talking about emotions, and how to use healthy distractions, I’d like to suggest some films. I recommend the two movies from the Inside Out franchise from Pixar.

Inside Out

I watched Inside Out, the first movie, in the cinemas when I was still in Brazil. I went with my partner and another good friend of ours. She was surprised about how much I laughed and cried during the film. And maybe a little embarrassed that I was nearly making a scene in the middle of the movie theater. Well, I’m like that. I swear I wasn’t intentionally trying to emulate the emotions depicted. Unwillingly, I was riding the emotional roller coaster with Riley. I know it is a children’s movie. However, they develop the story so that adults can enjoy it as well. I certainly did.

Inside Out 2

Just recently I watched Inside Out 2, and I loved it too. A new set of emotions is ready to take over control. New feelings like anxiety, envy, embarrassment, and ennui are determined to replace the old ones. From time to time, nostalgia tries to make an entrance ahead of time. It’s heart warming to see the hurdles that Riley is passing as she enters puberty. It’s a reminder of everything that we all went through as well. We need to be kind to ourselves instead of engaging in self-criticism. This also helps with emotional resilience.

Controlling our response

Negative feelings can happen to anyone. The truth is, we can’t always control our first emotion reactions to external events, like fear, anger, sadness or joy. These are simply automatic responses triggered by the brain, particularly the amygdala. They happen before we consciously process them. But we can control our response to them. I have mentioned before some other tools that I am exploring in my own life. For example, meditation, doing physical exercises and even writing everyday in my blog.

What strategies do you use for yourself? Please leave those in the comments!