A thought experiment

Let's try a little thought experiment here. Picture your best friend. Think about the fun the two of you had, the things you have shared together, the good stories you could tell from the past. Explore the emotions you feel now about this friend. If you vividly remember a lively experience, you are likely feeling good about this person. These emotions you are feeling are real, biologically speaking you brains are producing all sorts of nice chemicals that causes you to have these emotions.

Now, bear with me for another moment. Imagine your girlfriend, calling you. She is crying, in despair for help. She has just been sexual harassed by your best, but very drunk and abusive friend. Set aside that it is not true and see the possibility that it may happen. This so called friend has been touching your girlfriend on places where even you haven't been before. That bastard!.

Examine the emotions you feel now. If the thought experiment went well, you are experiencing other emotions than earlier. Again, the emotions are real. The story about your friend is not. That was all BS. Your girlfriend is fine. She is here next to me on the couch. Naked. No, just kidding. The point to be made is this: the emotions may be real, but what is causing is is not. It can be as unreal as any other. No, if you think about it, it is your very own brain that is making those emotions, all based on its very own perception of the world.

Actually, it was surprisingly easy to change the emotions about something while facts really weren't changed. All it took was some time to self reflect about the current situation and presto: instant emotions at your service.