Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of addiction.

Chapter 6 explores how physical environments profoundly influence emotional states and well-being. Kross introduces the concept of “space shifters,” explaining that one’s surroundings are powerful external forces that act upon one’s internal emotional regulation mechanisms.

Kross establishes that environments affect emotions through both indirect and direct pathways. Indirectly, physical settings shape societal structures and behaviors over time. Directly, environments influence immediate sensory experiences and attention. From these insights, Kross offers two practical strategies for individuals who want to use space to regulate emotions: Either change locations or modify the current space. To modify one’s space, Kross recommends both removing elements that trigger unwanted emotions (like tempting foods or digital distractions) and adding elements that cultivate positive emotions (such as photos of loved ones). This approach to environmental design, he explains, transforms self-control from a purely internal struggle into a strategic management of external factors, making emotional regulation less dependent on willpower alone.

While somewhat limited by its focus on individuals with the ability to relocate geographically, the chapter offers insights applicable across socioeconomic circumstances through its emphasis on space modification. By positioning environmental factors as emotion regulation tools rather than mere backgrounds, Kross challenges traditional self-help approaches that emphasize internal willpower, offering a more holistic view that incorporates external factors into emotional management strategies.