How Does That Make You Feel?

There is a common stereotype about psychologists repeatedly asking their patients, “How does that make you feel?” Some individuals tend to rely more on their thoughts, while others are more in tune with their emotions. When we express our feelings towards certain situations, we are tapping into a more primal part of our brain – the fight or flight response, or the instinct to be cautious of those who are different from us. This emotion is at the core of racism. While these instincts were beneficial in the past, we now live in a different era where it is crucial to engage our rational thinking more than our emotional responses.