In a recent LinkedIn post, Florence Divet ☀️ explores the neuroscience behind emotions and offers practical strategies for managing prolonged feelings of anger, anxiety, and sadness. Divet ☀️ highlights a key concept from Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, suggesting that the initial chemical surge of any emotion lasts only about 90 seconds. The challenge, according to Divet ☀️, is that individuals often extend these feelings by dwelling on negative thoughts.
“Every emotion only lasts 90 seconds. That’s neuroscience. Not poetry.”
Divet ☀️ questions why people experience emotions for much longer periods, attributing this to the act of “feeding” the initial emotion with repetitive thoughts. For instance, anger can be prolonged by replaying hurtful remarks or formulating retaliatory responses, while anxiety is amplified by spiraling “what if” scenarios. Similarly, sadness can be perpetuated by dwelling on perceived patterns of misfortune.
Understanding the Emotional Cycle
Florence Divet ☀️ argues that instead of allowing the natural emotional wave to pass, people often “pour fuel on it,” transforming a fleeting experience into a prolonged state. This process, Divet ☀️ explains, is not a sign of the brain trying to inflict suffering but rather an indicator that the brain is signaling unmet needs.
“Instead of letting the wave pass, we pour fuel on it. And suddenly what was designed to move through us in 90 seconds overstays for 90 days.”
The core of Divet ☀️’s message is about interrupting these detrimental thought loops. This involves recognizing the emotion, understanding the underlying need it signals, and responding to that need in a way that prevents the emotion from escalating.
Strategies for Interrupting Emotional Loops
Divet ☀️ provides a practical guide for addressing common prolonged emotions:
- Anger: Needs release. Divet ☀️ suggests physical activities like singing loudly to help calm the system.
- Anxiety: Needs grounding. Specific breathing techniques, such as a 4-7-8 pattern, are recommended to disrupt anxious thought spirals.
- Stress: Needs movement. Physical activity, even a short walk or dance break, can help dissipate stress chemistry.
- Sadness: Needs perspective. Practicing gratitude by noting specific positive moments can shift focus.
- Overthinking: Needs clarity. A “brain dump” of thoughts followed by identifying a single priority task can bring focus.
As Divet ☀️ puts it, these actions are not about rejecting emotions but about “listening to them. Then giving them what they asked for without giving them the keys to the house.” This approach reframes emotions not as insurmountable problems but as temporary visitors.
“Emotions are uninvited guests. They knock loudly, rearrange the furniture in your head… and leave. Unless you feed them dinner and let them stay.”
Divet ☀️ emphasizes the distinction between “spiral mode,” where one continues to fuel negative loops, and “power mode,” which involves taking a small, deliberate action to shift emotional chemistry. The key, according to Divet ☀️, is not to avoid emotions but to master the art of interrupting the loop.
Emotions as Data, Not Destiny
Florence Divet ☀️ concludes by urging readers to view emotions as valuable data and signals rather than definitive statements about their destiny. The practice involves pausing during an emotional surge, naming the emotion, and then taking one specific action to manage it.
“The magic isn’t in avoiding emotions. It’s in interrupting the loop.”
By consciously choosing to “shift” an emotion rather than “feed” it, individuals can reclaim their power and prevent temporary feelings from dominating their lives. Divet ☀️ encourages readers to save these strategies as a “90-second reset guide” for future use, reinforcing that the choice to manage emotional responses is a recurring one.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Florence Divet ☀️ on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on February 1, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →