To Achieve Emotional Equilibrium….
Hi There,
This month, I excitedly discussed Emotional Equilibrium in DRIVEN’s blog article. But the process turned out to be frustrating. The message sounded so clear in my head, but on paper, it struggled to materialize. Has this ever happened to you?
Due to the wise counsel of one of my masterminds (thank you, She Pack), I am reframing the mediocre article as a powerful springboard for exploring my vision and version of Emotional Equilibrium.
This is a self-coined term (like Fresh Market Cuisine), and it is unambiguously yet unspeakably etched into my mind. I did not successfully convey what is rattling around up there. So, employing the Growth Mindset, I’d like to take this opportunity to break the term down. Are you in?
If so, the first step is to examine what an emotion is and what it feels like.
It’s startling to consider how we’ve been conditioned to suppress our emotions. Have you ever been told to “suck it up”, or “squash them down”, or to simply not think about emotions? I sure have!
The ability to recognize our emotions allows for the agency to enhance our everyday living. This knowledge leads to perspective, clarity and the stimulus to fuel Emotional Equilibrium!
So, the first step toward achieving emotional equilibrium is to recognize your emotions. Now, you may be asking, “How does one do this?”
Well, you can begin proactively by “catching yourself”. Then, ask yourself, “How am I feeling?” “What am I feeling?”
If you’re scratching your head, confused, you may find it comical to learn that emotions which alert my amygdala often feel like they’re scratching at the back of my head. I’ve begun to quickly catch that gnawing feeling, signaling that I’m uneasy.
So, to catch yourself, try an experiment. Consider setting an alarm for the top of each hour for one day. When the signal rings, take a moment to check in with yourself. Study how you are feeling. Tune into which emotions are swirling through your brain and your body. Do you feel excitement? Anxiety? Impatience? Frustration? Exhaustion? Curiosity?
As you identify your thoughts, focus on your body just for a moment and state your emotions out loud: “I’m feeling anxious.”
Notice if the intensity of the emotion lessens as you fess up to how you’re feeling.
If this is intriguing, look for next week’s message to consider the concept of equilibrium.
Cheers!
-Deborah
Deborah Goldstein
DRIVEN Professionals / Forbes / Linkedin
info@drivenpros.com | LinkedIn
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