Preserving your inner peace is key to always being your best you can be in any situation.

Here are my 4 tips to do just that:

1) TRIGGERS/AWARENESS

Get to know your triggers and don’t ignore subtle changes in your mood which can be through sensations in your body. Getting to identify these shifts early can give you a warning that something might trigger you. Being able to notice this early means that you can either take a time out for yourself, or otherwise avoid meltdowns thereby being better able to respond in a most productive way.

2) RESPONSES/PLANNING

If you are aware of your triggers, you are able to plan your responses ahead of time in the event you are triggered. This prevents you from reacting by either lashing out in anger or frustration or shutting down altogether from overwhelm. You are gerally able to control your responses better by carrying out your planned actions. This could be a contingency action plan, or simple breathing exercise to ground you and avert from being emotionally hijacked.

3) PAUSE

Try to remind yourself to pause before you respond, it only takes a couple of seconds. By doing this, you give yourself enough time to remember to revert to your planned actions if you sense a trigger coming. Remember though, pausing does not mean putting off or not dealing with the situation or “elephant in the room”. Leaving things that triggered you uaddressed over time will take away your peace of mind!

4) SELF REFLECTIVE / MINDFUL PRACTICE

Doing some self reflecting or mindful practice around your emotions can help to either keep you or put you in a more grounded state. Feel your emotions. Name them. It’s ok to feel them and let them pass. Pretending they don’t matter will only encourage them to build up inside you. Feel them, acknowledge them and then let them go. In this more peaceful mindset, you’d be able to access more empathy and creativity to tackle whatever problem or challenge you face.

Try these pointers and let me know if they help you to feel more confident, empowered and in control especially when handling situations or people that trigger you and affect your peace of mind.