Principlev1PR-1719
Ask 'How will I feel about this in a year?' to shift…
Ask 'How will I feel about this in a year?' to shift from concrete to abstract mental representation, which naturally reduces emotional intensity without requiring you to believe the event is unimportant.
Why This Is a Principle
This principle derives from Construal Level Effects on Perception (construal level changes what features appear relevant) and Between every event and every emotional response… (appraisal interprets meaning). It prescribes a specific cognitive operation that leverages construal level theory for emotion regulation.