A while back, I wrote a post about noticing your triggers--the words, actions, experiences that result in significant action both good and bad. Typically the word "trigger" connects to resulting bad actions, but there can be positive triggers too--experiences that prompt the best of us. Since I wrote the post, I've been more cognizant of life's triggers. We all have triggers in life that take us down or move us to significant, positive action too.
President Trump is clearly a trigger for me. Most of his words and actions are an affront to all I believe in and invest in. When he speaks and acts, I often get angry as I believe he wastes our time, money, and potential as a people--he brings us down, and I hate that wasted energy. Yet, he also was a catalyst for some good too--my abhorrence of his leadership led me to learn more about our government and to get involved more with political campaigns and advocacy. His bad work made me invest more in what I believe to be good work.
Another trigger for me is my heightened sensitivity. I am a very sensitive person--a character trait that teachers would remark about me from my earliest days. In many ways, I'm a feeler who can feel people's emotions when I'm near them. Also as a person who wants the best for all, I am sometimes wounded when I'm around people who are facing great challenge--I can feel their pain, and that sometimes leads me to despair. As an educator, I sometimes had students like me in the room. I watched them take in the emotions and feelings in the room--I saw the weight that was, and I also saw the light that brought to their art, writing, and actions. Yesterday, after a day of really good work, I came home with a large weight of oppression on my shoulders. Clearly throughout the day, I took in a lot of emotion as I busily went about my work. Clearly some of my work puts me in positions where I am triggered by the needs of others, and if not dealt with well, these triggers cn take me down.
Exhaustion is another trigger that can take me down. I think most people can relate to that trigger, and to avoid exhaustion is a step towards working against this harmful trigger.
It is critical to recognize what brings you down--the triggers that lead you to less-than-positive endeavor. It's also important to notice the triggers or inspiration that lead to your best work.
For me, I am mostly inspired by the people I love and care for. I truly enjoy helping those I care about. For example, my greatest inspiration at school, was my students--I LOVED helping them in any way that I could. I also enjoyed helping their families and colleagues who were invested in teaching well. I also love to support my family members--I truly LOVE my family, and that inspires me to do good. So love is a positive trigger for me, a positive source of inspiration.
Another positive trigger for me is vision and dreams. I love the work of making dreams come true; I love dreaming, imagining and visualizing what can be and working for that potential.
In the days ahead, I'll think more about triggers both positive and negative--the kinds of experiences that bring out the best and worst in us. It is important to have that conversation with those you live and work with--it's important for people to notice who they are and what helps them to reach their best potential in life.