“There’s a dark side to each and every human soul. We wish we were Obi-Wan Kenobi, and for the most part we are, but there’s a little Darth Vader in all of us. Thing is, this ain’t no either or proposition. We’re talking about dialectics, the good and the bad merging into us. You can run but you can’t hide. My experience? Face the darkness, stare it down. Own it. As brother Nietzsche said, being human is a complicated gig. Give that old dark night of the soul a hug! Howl the eternal yes!” -Stuart Stevens
“Instead of resisting any emotion, the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully, embrace it and see through your resistance.”- Deepak Chopra
“Thank you for life, and all the little ups and downs that make it worth living.” -Travis Barker
We all have bad days. Sometimes, we just can’t win. They seem to come out of nowhere and linger for awhile. And for no obvious reason at all. I have had a few days recently where they started rough and didn’t really improve. For some reason, I slept restlessy through several nightmares. I woke up tired and anxious. I felt unmotivated and was not very productive on those days. I felt guilty for doing only the minimum on those days. It’s probably the worst I have ever felt.
I am sharing this because it’s important to know- emotions have power. They can either control you or you control them. Our inward reality creates how we view the outside world. Many people allow negative events and experience shape their emotions. They allow the world to make them angry and uninspired. They have a negative view of the world because it’s not fair in their eyes. Oppositely, people who create a positive viewpoint of the world around them tend to be more happy, healthy, and productive. They see all of the wonders and miracles this world has to offer and choose to focus on those.
It is imperative to learn how to control your emotions. The first step would be to identify how you feel and react to certain events in your life. Do you react in a negative or positive way? What thoughts do you think? How do you feel physically during those periods? Next, acknowledge that all emotions are temporary. The are fleeting reactions to present moments or events. Once we acknowledge these triggers and reactions, it is important to identify the ones you would like to change. Once you become aware of negative emotions, decide to do all you can to transfer that energy into something productive. Use those raw emotions as constructive instead of destructive Here are some tactics to let go of negative emotions and harness positive ones:
-Allow yourself to fully feel the emotion in a safe setting. Cry your eyes out, yell your voice hoarse, punch until your knuckles bleed
-Share your emotions and feelings with a trusted loved one
-Practice yoga
-Go work out
–Take up meditation or deep breathing
-Sing in private or public
-Punching an object- a pillow, punching bag, or mattress
-Yell to your hearts content!
It is critical to identify how we react emotionally to life events and change our negative reactions. Anger, jealousy, anxiety, hate, and others are toxic to the body and soul. These emotions can be changed to happiness, joy, peace, or gratitude. It just takes the right mindset. Above all, Eat, Move, and Improve!
EAT, MOVE, IMPROVE 