Same Event, Different Feelings: Why Our Thoughts Matter More Than We Realise
- naumitarishi
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Have you ever wondered how two people can walk through the exact same moment and walk away with entirely different emotions?
One child might freeze during a school play and feel ashamed, while another stumbles and laughs it off.
A team may face a last-minute project change — one member feels energised, another overwhelmed, and someone else, indifferent.
The event? The same.
The feelings? Entirely different.
The reason? Their thoughts.
The Invisible Filter: Thoughts Shape Emotions
What we feel isn’t directly caused by what happens. It’s filtered through what we think about what happens.
Imagine a moment of silence after you share your idea in a meeting.
Your thoughts could be:
“They’re judging me.”
“They’re reflecting.”
“Maybe I surprised them!”
Each of these thoughts will shape a completely different emotional experience — anxiety, curiosity, or even pride.
This is the heart of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): it helps us notice our automatic thoughts, understand how they affect our emotions, and choose more helpful responses.
Why It Matters in Everyday Life
This understanding doesn’t just belong in therapy rooms. It’s a life skill:
For parents navigating tantrums
For teens facing peer pressure
For adults managing relationships, work stress, or self-doubt
When we decode the loop between thoughts, feelings, and actions, we give ourselves more choice and less chaos.
Thought Awareness Can Be Grown
The good news? Thought awareness is a skill — one that can be learned, practised, and gently passed on.
We can start with ourselves. Then, we can teach the next generation.
Want to help children learn this too?
If you want to teach kids the basics of thoughts and emotions in a playful, age-appropriate way, check out this pin:
👉 Save & follow this pin🔗 Or visit the Feeling Decoder workbook — a secret mission-themed CBT workbook created just for them!
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