5. Invitation to Insight Become more aware of your own emotional triggers by following these instructions:

a. In each category shown, identify two words that trigger positive reactions for you and two other words you react to negatively:

1. A person’s name.

2. The label for a category of people

(e.g., “fanatic”).

3. A rule, policy, or issue (e.g., gay marriage).

b. How do you react, both internally and observably, when you hear these terms?

Ponder the source of your reactions (the way you were raised? past experiences?).

How might your reactions impact your communication?

c. Use the same categories to identify words that trigger positive and negative reactions in a person you work with. What are the consequences of using these emotion-laden words with that person? Suggest neutral words you could use to replace the trigger words.