Ask yourself Quote by Lisa Feldman Barrett
““Western culture has some common wisdom associated with these ideas. Don’t be materialistic. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Sticks and stones. But I am asking you to take this one step further. When you are suffering from some ill or insult that has befallen you, ask yourself: Are you really in jeopardy here? Or is this so-called injury merely threatening the social reality of your self ? The answer will help you recategorize your pounding heartbeat, the knot in the pit of your stomach, and your sweaty brow as purely physical sensations, leaving your worry, anger, and dejection to dissolve like an antacid tablet in water.40””
About This Quote
Source Book: How Emotions Are Made, 2017
Reframing perceived threats as physical sensations reduces emotional intensity and promotes calm.
In simple terms: Seeing pain as physical, not personal, eases distress.
Key Takeaway
Shift focus from meaning to bodily feeling.
Themes
psychology
mindfulness
resilience
Mood
reflective
calming
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- stress management
- conflict resolution
- health anxiety
- public speaking
Key Concepts
cognitive reframing
embodiment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you tell when an emotion is a signal versus a story?
- What physical cue can you anchor to when upset?
A Different Perspective
May not work if the threat is truly existential or life‑threatening.
![“I felt bad about myself because certain people were relentlessly attacking me and my reputation. My mom kept saying 'Let it go, Lauren, It doesn't matter' ... [I] realized I had to stop worrying about what other people think. The next day I got a tattoo on my lower back that says 'sticks and…” quote by Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aad/lauren-conrad-1588_attacking_i-felt-bad-about-myself-because-certain_166995.jpg)
