The emotions grid

 

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Found this from Alastair Humphreys... Ben Saunders, article explorer:

Following my previous article – lessons of lockdown, learnt on the ice – a number of people got in touch to find out more about the ‘emotions grid’; a monitoring system devised by a psychologist to help me share my emotions more accurately and honestly while on my first major solo expedition.

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My education and my ego therefore led to me becoming someone who would need help in asking for help. 

This is where the grid came in. On an A6 laminated sheet, glued into the back of my expedition diary, were 26 emotions – a full range of human feeling – measured against a scoring system of 0-4 – ‘not at all’ through to ‘extremely.’ We were short on time and money so this iteration was rough and ready – you'll see an emotion or two repeated – but it proved to be a lifeline. It proved also to be an expedition tool which was ahead of its time; the mental health landscape of the early noughties was archaic, and even more so in my peculiar line of work.

On the satellite phone I would call my expedition manager, Tony Haile, each evening and was usually greeted with the word ‘numbers’. The conversation ­– before any further chat was exchanged – went into code – ‘8 – 2’ ‘14 - 4’ ‘18 - 1’ ‘23 - 3’ ‘4 – 4’ and so on. With this data he would seek the guidance of our psychologist on how best to help me that following evening. Did I need a metaphorical arm around my shoulder, kick up the backside or word of encouragement? Would I benefit from a heartfelt message from a loved one, distraction through some amusing anecdote from the real world, or incentive through a new near-term goal?

The shift in my understanding of what constitutes ‘strength’ or 'bravery' began with these phone calls and is mirrored by the changing faces of my role models and heroes. Those I look to for inspiration today display none of the overblown, chest-puffing belligerence, which I recognise now to be the opposite of courage. What takes real bravery is being able to ask for help. Which is why tools for making that step simpler – like the grid system – can be invaluable.