The Trigger Chain

Every triggered reaction follows the same chain: stimulus, interpretation, emotion, behavior. The whole sequence happens in under a second, which is why it feels like the stimulus directly caused the behavior.

Consider an example. Your partner says "we need to talk," and your stomach drops. You feel dread. But those words are neutral — they could precede good news. Your interpretation, shaped by past moments where those words meant criticism, generates the fear.

The chain matters because it shows where you can intervene. You cannot control the stimulus or the first emotion. But you can examine the interpretation — and that changes everything downstream.