134 brilliantpositivepsychology Perceiving and interpreting situations and events matter to how we feel (Figure 6.1). How we feel influences our capacity to think clearly and affect our environment. How we feel determines our actions. If we interpret events negatively, or pessimistically, we function less well than those who have a positive or optimistic interpretation. Our feelings are dependent on what we believe. Therefore our ability to function well is dependent on what we choose to believe. We respond emotionally to events and to our situation Event The situation and the events that happen around elicit an emotional response Interpretation What we believe about an event or our situation is the event or situation we experience We respond emotionally to what we believe Response What we believe affects how we feel Outcome How we feel affects our actions Figure 6.1 How interpretation and belief can change how we feel and respond Taming the gremlin There are many programmes that are based on noticing and changing beliefs. One of the most well established is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). There is an excellent book on CBT in the Brilliant series. Seligman has also developed a programme based on earlier cogni- tive therapy models. 117 This is the Penn Optimism Program; 118 it has been used to great effect, especially helping children develop the ability to become better problem solvers, to become more hopeful and as a consequence less prone to depression. Seligman calls how we talk about what we believe our `explanatory style'. 119