Folks, who is in charge of your moods? Who creates your emotions? Yes, external events can act as triggers but in between stimulus and response lies a space and, in that space, lies our freedom to choose. Your world view, your chosen interpretations of events all powerfully impact your emotions and those are within your control.
You reply: But reality is reality! I see what I see, I feel what I feel! Well, there are over 7 Billion people on this Earth, each with a unique set of genes and experiences, each seeing the world through their individual eyes and yes, experiencing their personal ‘reality.’ To distance myself and create emotional space, I sometimes tell myself “There is someone on the other side of the globe that is not upset about this; I’m going to go be them for 5 minutes!”
Cool, calm, centered, collected, composed. Let those words be your calling card, your mantra in the storm. Be your own best friend, stay on your own side; you’ve got enough challenges as it is, don’t contribute to your problems by overreacting or giving them energy: Live Smart, Avoid Dumb, Don’t Sabotage. As Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) said “Nothing gives one person so much advantage as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.”
Closing Quotes:
“For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” – Philippians 4:11, Apostle Paul, written while imprisoned in Rome, awaiting trial before Caesar
“Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them.” – Stephen R. Covey, ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, 1932-2012
“When carrying your own weather, remember you are your own meteorologist. If you don’t like the weather, change it.” – Scott Jeffery Miller, ‘Management Mess to Leadership Success’
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
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