22/09/2025
We’ve all been there, something small happens, and suddenly it feels huge. Maybe your partner doesn’t answer your call, and suddenly you feel unwanted, unimportant, or even angry. Or you receive some constructive feedback at work, and instead of taking it as guidance, you feel attacked and defensive. Later, you wonder: Why did I react that way?
Triggers, uncomfortable as they are, are actually signals pointing us to where healing needs to happen. If we treat them only as annoyances or as reasons to lash out, we miss the opportunity they bring. But if we slow down and lean into them, they can become teachable moments. For example, instead of snapping at your partner with, “You never pick up when I call,” you could take a breath and say, “When you don’t answer, I sometimes feel overlooked, and it makes me a little anxious. I know it’s not always intentional, but I’d love it if we could talk about it.” That shift transforms what could have been an argument into a moment of connection and understanding.
The same applies at work. Let’s say your boss gives you feedback that a report wasn’t thorough enough. Your first reaction might be embarrassment, shame, or even anger. But instead of shutting down, what if you asked yourself, why is this hitting me so hard? Maybe it’s because deep down, you’ve tied your worth to being perfect. By noticing that, you not only take the feedback as practical advice, but you also become aware of the inner pressure you’ve been carrying. That awareness gives you a chance to release it and build healthier ways of seeing yourself.
Turning triggers into growth moments doesn’t mean you’ll never feel them again. It means you’ll begin to see them as teachers instead of flaws. They show you where your heart still needs tenderness, where old stories need rewriting, and where you can build deeper connections with the people around you. Each time you pause, reflect, and respond differently, you are not just reacting, you are healing, you are learning, and you are growing.