How a Robot Can Keep You Peaceful
Has something made you extremely angry recently?
Was it a mosquito that was buzzing around as you tried to fall asleep…or the next door neighbour’s lawn mower waking you up early on Sunday morning…or maybe a loved one did something that got you into a rage?
The emotion of anger can make you act without thinking, termed the “amygdala hijack” as coined by Dan Goleman in his book Emotional Intelligence. The amygdala is the emotional centre of the brain and can create split second responses to a perceived threat. It does this based on previously stored patterns. This can be lifesaving if the threat is real. In ordinary life this reaction can result in an irrational, harmful response that worsens the situation, for example throwing your cell phone at the mosquito or assaulting your next door neighbour mowing his lawn. This happens because the amygdala bypasses the neo cortex- the thinking brain. After the action you might feel remorseful and wish you hadn’t done or said what you did in that moment.
Do you wish you could you manage anger better?
Some believe anger is a destructive emotion, but if you see it as a messenger, you can use it as a helpful tool to alert you to activating your “anti- hijack” as I have named it.
The anti-hijack solution prevents an irrational and possibly harmful reaction and allows for a more rational response.
It’s called the robot technique.
Imagine a robot, with the colours red, yellow and green from top to bottom.
As soon as you start feeling angry go to RED which means STOP.
This means stop everything- talking, doing or thoughts.
Next go to YELLOW which means PAUSE. Just hang out for a bit.
>>It’s recommended that you pause for about 6 seconds<<
You can do this counting slowly to 6 forwards or backwards or in multiples or naming the 7 dwarfs. This engages the analytical, or thinking part of your brain. The pause allows you to integrate the situation in front of you, and prevents the amygdala from hijacking your actions.
You can now move on to GREEN which is to ACT.
The pause allows you to make a more rational decision by giving the neo cortex (thinking brain) a chance to respond.
Keep practising this technique so that it becomes habitual. Start on little “flare ups” – like the mosquito, and notice the improvements.
Use the robot technique the next time you feel angry, and let me know how it goes in the comments below.
If you found this technique useful share it with your friends and be sure to like it on my Facebook page.
Take care and keep living a life of joy NOW,
