Mental Health/Emotion

What Upsets You?

Our emotions tell us what we care deeply about

Take notice of the things and situations that upset you — or give you joy.

By listening to yourself, you can learn about what you hold dear in your life.

Our emotions are excellent gauges of what we focus upon or what we should be working on.

Our feelings are neither right nor wrong. It is what we do with them that is truly important.

Lesson to Learn

It is good to feel deeply about your life and what is happening within it. It makes us human to feel.

Can you imagine life without laughter, tears, joy, and sorrow?

We are human beings, not human doings. Let yourself feel all that washes over you.

Take note of it without judgment. Let your heart ponder what it means to you. Powerful emotions need to be examined.

What makes you truly angry, sad, hurt, joyful, or happy?

You don’t need to do something about it each time. However, do look at it deeply to see what you can learn. Once you better understand your emotions, you can choose a plan of action, if warranted.

Many fail to realize just how vital to their happiness and success their feelings really are.

Answer for Me

I used to bottle up my feelings. I wanted to have rational thoughts and actions. Getting things done was what I valued most.

I was rewarded for solving problems and I advanced in my career by quickly and accurately getting things done.

However, if we don’t acknowledge our deep feelings, we cannot honestly know what is going on within us.

My feelings are a window to what I value.

My feelings tell me about what matters most to me. It is where I find my passions for life and where I find the strength to do challenging things.

Nearly every meaningful thing that I do comes with a lot of feelings and emotions. I want to express them fully — privately or with those I love.

I want to know and understand what they are to me and why I am feeling them. This deeper reflective approach to my life has made me much happier and more effective.

I am a better version of myself when I live this way.

Action

What are you feeling? Can you let yourself experience it privately or with those your trust deeply?

Take the time to do this regularly — daily if necessary. This does not make you weak or less of a person — it makes you stronger, more aware, and better prepared for the future.

Accept feelings and emotions as good friends who will help you live a vibrant and successful life.

Write your feelings down without judgment. A feeling or emotion is never wrong. How you respond is what will make you who you are meant to be.

Your greatest moments lie within the area of your most heartfelt experiences. This inner fire that is ignited by your passion must be felt and learned from.

Feel it first. Dig deep to understand it. Share it, when you can, with those you trust. Then, you can respond fully to it and what it is calling you to do.

Daily Habits

Start and/or end each day by being fully aware of your feelings. Even those feelings you want to bury or hide away — don’t do it!

Go to the bottom of your well to draw out the deepest, most powerful feelings — even the ones that scare you at first.

Find an appropriate way for you to experience your feelings daily. Then, you can learn from them.

Don’t put off this task for another day or time — schedule time where you can be quiet with yourself in meditation or prayer. Find the best time to do this.

Make it a daily routine or habit. If need be, do it several times a day. If needed, seek professional help to process through them.

Be fully in tune with your feelings. They are what make you truly you!

Do you want more insights?

To learn more about leadership, visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, go to www.amazon.com.