A String Around My Finger

We have been told that we should follow our head and leave our feelings out of decision making because feelings are misleading.

I beg to differ. Our feelings or emotions are our God-given, built in devise to keep us on track. Emotions keep us in tune with how we are living and in what direction we are going.

Now, if we get really angry and say or do things in that anger, that is different. I am talking about how we feel on a day-to-day basis, when we are washing the dishes, surfing the Internet, or interacting with our family.

Remember that cute little cricket, Jimminy, from Pinocchio?? "Always let your conscious be your guide!" We all have him in our pocket or on our shoulder with his cute little top hat and cane.

This is my new challenge to you, I am trying this myself and I have noticed that it is working:

Tie a string around your finger (other alternatives are a rubber band around your wrist or some other type of bracelet or ring). Every time you see this string, "check-in" to how you are feeling.

Ask your self, "How am I feeling? What am I thinking about? What am I thinking to myself, about myself, or about others? How am I speaking to others? Where are my thoughts?"

The next part is simple, IF your emotions are positive, SMILE and keep going. If they are negative, think of a phrase you can say to "flip it". For example: If I checked in and I was feeling anxious about something (which happens a lot for me) I would say out loud, with that anxiety in mind, "But what if that doesn't happen, then what?" Immediately my mind leaves that negative thought and I am thinking of the positive or the good things that will happen instead.

If I found I was thinking something negative about someone, I would say, "But this person is so great because_______."

It works. It's easy. You will be amazed at what goes on inside of your head! I know I was. I did not even realize how damaging some of my thoughts, and in consequence my emotions were and how they were leading me down paths I wasn't even aware of.

By becoming more aware of your emotions and where they are leading you, you can take control and shape your future in an amazing way.

Good Luck!!