Sometimes it is enough to look at something differently to change it, but the emotions that “rule the show” in a stressful situation often do not allow us to carry out our plans. When assessing the situation emotionally, we most often tend to be negative options for the development of events, because the analysis of the situation is based on controversial emotional conclusions, and more complex signals are missed. The result is a rather distorted picture, based on which we can maintain unnecessary brain activity, increasing the stress response. Instead of issuing a conclusion after carefully studying all the nuances, our brain quickly builds a “negative version” based on the received signals, and is quite ready to “manipulate the facts” so that the theory it has created does not crumble like a house of cards. This can help what is commonly called cognitive reappraisal is an assessment of the situation from a rational point of view (when emotions have “moved away from command”), attention to unaccounted facts. In this way, a sufficient amount of important information is collected, which, when processed, will cause us the least suffering. Over time, this technique can help you learn to “read” the situation differently, perceiving it with less drama. If you consciously remember some unpleasant event, imagining yourself as a spectator (observer), and not the main character, there will be significantly fewer unpleasant emotions and there will be a chance to look look at things more objectively by asking yourself the “right” questions. Two questions for cognitive reappraisal: “How?” and why?" (an event occurred).🔸Ask yourself the question “Why?” if you have achieved success in something. By thinking, weighing, using imagination and making assumptions, you can not only feel like a philosopher, but also prolong the pleasure of success and maintain a positive attitude. Gloomy reasoning when answering the question “Why?” can only further fuel the fire of negativity. 🔸Ask yourself “How?” if you have failed / failed in something. Using this rational question, you can conduct an objective analysis of the event (nothing personal, just facts), thereby significantly reducing the intensity of unpleasant feelings from failure, protecting yourself from devaluing thoughts, and also understanding what to do next to correct the situation. As practice shows , the main thing is not to confuse the questions! In one study, students were artificially put in a bad mood by forcing them to complete a test. Then the participants had to write what they thought about it. One group was asked to answer the question “Why?” and explain why this happened to them. The remaining participants were asked to state the “How?” everything happened. The latter's stories showed logical reasoning. After 12 hours, the “why” people felt worse and complained more often about chaotic thoughts overwhelming them than the “rationalists.” Why are these questions needed? Our brain is designed in such a way that, even after emerging from a state of stress, it can still “give out” negative emotions in response to unexpected or unwanted events for a long time - trying to “solve an unresolved problem.” But just by asking the right questions, you can help both him and yourself.!