As students, you’re likely all too familiar with the age-old question posed by humanities teachers: "Interpret the author's intent” or “interpret the meaning of this passage.” Interestingly, the key to analytical interpretation in English class can offer a key into why turning our attention inward might help us reframe our thoughts and how we respond to various situations.
As Hamlet famously said, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." In English class, you might need to contextualize a character’s action within the framework of the time period, storyline or relationship with other characters or overarching themes. In essence, you’re trying to make sense of things. Similarly, our thoughts can largely shape our reality, and how we frame a situation in our own minds will determine the intensity and duration of our emotional response to it.