Emotional Triggers

I think we all have experienced getting emotionally overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes we act out. It’s not good for us or anyone else if we do that. So, what should we do? A deep dive into what triggers our emotional response is the first step. Some can do this alone and others may need professional help. We are not alone. There is always help.

Once the triggers are identified then set a plan to keep away from them, or more realistically, learn techniques to handle these emotional responses.  Some of these techniques could be creating some space by walking away even for a few minutes. Try concentrating on breathing and being mindful of how the body is feeling. Sometimes petting or cuddling an animal can bring calm feelings. I’ve heard putting your hands in water and focusing on the feeling is very relaxing. And taking a walk and connecting to nature is a great way to clear the head. Find what works for you. And don’t forget to get enough sleep. The body so needs that rest and escape from the world.

That deep dive into the mind of why we get emotionally triggered is the most important step we can do for our self care.  Don’t ignore negative feelings. They won’t go away without positive action. We all need a little help to live a balanced and happy life.

“Empty yourself of everything – let the mind become still.” ~ Lao Tzu

Don’t Settle

“It is amazing how your life changes when you embrace the reality that you’re better than the life you’ve settled for.”

~ Steve Maraboli

If you are unhappy with your life, you, and only you, can change things. Walk across that bridge to the life you are meant to live. Do this by making little changes every day in how you think about things, and how you treat the world you live in, and the people you engage with. Especially think about how you treat yourself. Change starts in the head. No matter where you go, what makes you unhappy will follow you.

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” ~ Wayne Dyer

Don’t ever make drastic changes in your life while angry or hurt. Give feelings time to calm down. Ask yourself is this change you want to make for the better, or will it end up being for the worst.

Whatever you do in life, never settle for just anything. Make sure your life fills you with joy and purpose. There are always down days, and sad days, but a well lived life should lift you up, comfort you, and help you back on your journey.

You, beautiful human, deserve a happy life.

 “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.” ~ Naeem Callaway

Clear the Cache of Your Mind

“Know that the only important house to clean is your mind.”
~ Byron Katie

Just like our computers we need to occasionally clear our cache memory of hidden thoughts that can make us unhappy. We all store our thoughts in this cache and it makes it convenient for our egos to grab them fast putting us in worry unhappy mode. Sometimes we’re going about our day just fine when all of a sudden we see or hear something that makes those thoughts pop out seemingly out of nowhere. And sometimes thought gremlins visit us at night when we are supposed to be sleeping. If this happens too often then it’s a sign we need to clear our mind’s cache.

There are many ways to clear your mind. Try expressing your thoughts by writing or drawing. Talk with a trusted friend. Some people love to run, or swim. I like yoga and mindful meditation, and of course, writing. The key is to find what works for you. And the key is to become aware of your feelings before those feelings become aware of you. Letting your cache get clogged up will make you miserable.

The world we live in is an upside down place with many challenges, and that makes it super important that we take good care of ourselves. You, my beautiful humans, are unique. There is no one on earth like you, and when you’re gone no one will ever be able to replace you. Please take good care of your wonderful precious mind and live your life free and happy even if sometimes like me, you are slipping and sliding along your journey.

“The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.” ~ Prasad Mahes

Drive into the Curves

“When life throws you a curve, lean into it.” ~Author Unknown

Our journey is constantly full of potholes and curves. Now with potholes we want to be careful how we travel over them, and take our time so we don’t get too beat up. But curves are better handled if we don’t drag our feet or ride our brakes too much.

Don’t let fear keep you from seeing what’s on the other side of that twisty curve. Be like a sports car and take your foot off the brake and drive into the curves of your life. There just might be beautiful weather on the other side, and you’ll never know unless you try.

Be brave and bold on your journey. You got this; trust yourself.

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”
~Louisa May Alcott

Meet People Where They’re At

Don’t push your agenda on anyone, or try and change how someone feels. Just listen and be there for the humans in your life. And certainly never have any expectations of how things should be.

Take the time in your busy life to sit down and pay attention without judgment to what a person has to say. You will be surprised how much better your relationships will be if you meet people where they’re at, and always have compassion.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
~ Lao Tzu

Apologize

“Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.” ~ Author unknown

Saying “I’m sorry,” is so hard to do when we don’t feel we did anything wrong. When we say those words we feel like we’re admitting and taking ownership to hurting someone, or doing something wrong. If that wasn’t our intent, or we don’t believe it’s true then why should we apologize?

I think telling someone you’re sorry even though you had no idea you hurt them is something you do as a kindness and just being a good human. You do it for them; not for you. After all, I don’t think very many of us have a problem when shopping at the grocery store saying I’m sorry when we bump into someone’s basket by mistake, or cut them off. It doesn’t seem to bother us to say it because it’s a courtesy that just flows out of our mouths. So why isn’t it a courtesy when someone lets us know that we upset them?

Every day we deal with other humans and we say things that people take the wrong way and we even hurt feelings. We make decisions at the time that seem right but sometimes end up wrong. Our mouths say things before our brains have a chance to digest words and actions. It’s all part of the human condition, but so is being considerate of our fellow humans.

When you apologize to someone in the case of not intentionally trying to cause them emotional pain, you are not admitting guilt. You are being a human connecting to another human and sending love. When you do apologize make sure it comes from the heart. Really feel that empathy for another being.

Maybe if more of us could be selfless and learn to connect the world would be a happier place.

“Apologies are the art of spiritual housekeeping. They help to put and keep our lives in order.” ~ Julia Cameron

Silent

LISTEN MORE, SPEAK LESS, AND A WHOLE NEW WORLD WILL OPEN UP FOR YOU.

“The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.” ~ Author Unknown

 

 

Deadly Companions

Sometimes we fear the things we don’t understand.

And, we start to hate the things we fear.

Then greed walks in and grabs everything in sight.

When we fear something that maybe we shouldn’t, it means we need to educate ourselves about it. Learning why we feel the fear toward something or even someone might not make us agree and like it, but it will give us the information we need to open our minds and perhaps our hearts and try to see and comprehend what we feel in a different light. We can knock out fear by facing it and learning everything about it.

Hate is never the answer to anything. It’s just the lazy way to put a bandage on anything we don’t want to face and certainly try to understand. Hate makes us do and become the worst and ugly part of ourselves. It’s the mind gone mad because the heart is in a coma.

When I think of greed I see a child stuffing his mouth so full that his cheeks are ready to burst. Greed is a weird thing. If you mix it with fear and hate it becomes a dangerous cocktail so destructive that it produces wars and genocide.

If we are to survive as a species, we must get rid of these deadly companions. We need to open our minds to new possibilities and ways of thinking. We can learn to replace these things with acceptance and maybe even love. We must endeavor to become more enlightened.

 

Deep Inside

 

“Be compassionate with yourself.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

You are the who that you are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change the bad that you are. But… in doing that, don’t condemn the whole that is all of what you are.

Have compassion for what is deep inside.

It’s a new year and you know what that means? You are now looking at a blank canvas, a fresh start, and all the old negative feelings you had in 2017 you should throw out with this week’s trash! You don’t need them anymore.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are human and are learning. So learn to forgive, love, care about everyone—and that includes you. If you can’t do this for yourself then it will be harder to do it with others.

Life is short; don’t wait. Go ahead and reach deep inside—you might be surprised at the beauty you find there.

Hold on to Dreams

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” 

~ Louisa May Alcott

Our aspirations and dreams of what can be give us the energy and fight to get up in the morning. They are part of what drives us. Never give up on your dreams because they’re who you are and why you’re here.

Stay Strong.