Even when negative thoughts or emotions (his mother's addictions during his childhood) were mentioned, these emotions were used to create a positive outcome. She was able to overcome the negative feelings and move from NEA to PEA. This was done by connecting these memories to who Kristy does not want to be (a mother who prioritizes her children) and applying the positive aspects to her ideal self (her children are always her number one priority). Boyatzis and Akrivou stated that, "although both cognitive and emotional processes are necessary for the person to activate and articulate an ideal self, it is trait-based positive emotion that becomes the driver and substance of the ideal self as a whole" ( p. 625). . Kristy was able to combine cognitive and emotional processes related to a negative experience to transform that experience into a positive emotion. The positive emotion of loving and caring for her children and remembering the way her father cared for her allowed her to create a positive driver and root of her ideal