What Is Your Default Emotion?

Did you know we all have a 'default' baseline emotion?

Can you think of someone in your life who, no matter what happens to them they react the same way? It might be anger, frustration, anxiety. Or maybe someone you know seems to always default to joy or gratitude? Have you ever stopped to think about what emotion you default to?

This doesn't mean you don't feel other emotions. But rather, you default to a dominant feeling once intense emotions have subsided like excitement at a new prospect or life change, or maybe fear towards this.

Is this emotion in my control?

Yes. Ultimately this baseline emotion has been a culmination of choices and beliefs, and now it is more unconscious and habitual. But it is a choice and you can change your baseline!

What if I don't know my baseline?

For some, it is easy to recognise what their baseline emotion is. For others, it can take deep inner work to understand what their true baseline is. This is where working with a coach to help guide you through the mazes of your mind can be incredibly powerful. Not only to understand yourself better, but to then make the concious CHOICE of what you want your baseline to be. People say they want to be happier in life, but without first recognising why your default is not happiness it can be an almost impossible feat.

How can I start to understand my baseline?

Work with a coach! This will be the most effective route to learn yourself because you are being guided by a third party who has experience navigating these waters. Some other things you can do to start to uncover your baseline emotion yourself includes:

1. Journaling with prompts about how you're feeling, why, and what it means to you
2. Meditating. Slowing the mind down so you can make space between thoughts is an incredibly powerful tool to begin to hear yourself and get to know what state you are living in.
3. Audit your day. Look at your days and reflect on how you felt in response to different conversations, people and situations. Jot down what emotions you felt throughout the day for a week, and notice any patterns.

If you're feeling called to take on 1:1 coaching, reach out for a free discovery call here