Have you ever been in a situation where you are made to feel unimportant, unloved, or emotionally unsafe? We all have. But did you know that how you react to that feeling can affect how (or if) the situation is resolved?
Many people have a default reactive style–a sort of coping mechanism your brain triggers to protect you in a situation that feels unsafe. Take the assessment below to map your emotional reactivity.
When you can name your default coping pattern, you can:
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Interrupt it
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Communicate your needs more clearly
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Understand your partner’s reactions with compassion
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Create safety and emotional closeness
These patterns won’t disappear overnight (wouldn’t that be nice!), but with awareness and practice, they soften and intimacy grows.
