Processing the Past

The brain does not store an emotional experience as an isolated memory. When an event is recalled, the emotions connected to it can also become active. Steve explains why the Chimp may experience something from the past as though it is happening now.

Steve asks you to identify three events that continue to trouble you. He explains why an experience that appears relatively minor to one person may be very significant to someone else, depending on their individual experiences and what is held within their Computer.

The first steps are to accept that the event happened and recognise that it cannot now be changed. Steve explains how the Human can establish that the experience belongs in the past, rather than allowing it to continue intruding on the present.

Even when an event was entirely negative, it may offer an indirect positive through what we can learn from it. Steve encourages you to reflect on what the experience taught you about yourself, other people or how you could approach a similar situation differently in future.

A new connection needs to be actively reinforced until it becomes established within the Computer. Steve explains how repeatedly linking the event with the learning and putting that learning into practice can begin to change the emotions attached to it.

Some events are too significant to be fully processed and may continue to return. Steve explains how emotional scars can be managed by either allowing the Chimp a limited period to express itself safely or choosing to disengage when engaging would not be helpful.