This is a great example of how we can have vastly different interpretations of the same situation. Think about this as your unique lens with which you see the world.

Our interpretation, which is influenced by our upbringing, culture, and previous life experiences, context of life and time,  lead to specific thoughts, and depending on our thoughts, we have different emotions.

If someone cuts us off while driving, and we interpret that the person is rushing to the hospital, we are more likely to feel empathy. Given the same situation, if we interpret the person that cut us off as being a jerk, then we will probably not feel empathy, but a lot of anger. The emotion doesn’t dissipate just because the situation changes and the driver isn’t in front of you anymore.

Thank you for taking a moment to train your mind and reflect with your team.

Go back to Team Exercises