Master your emotions and upgrade your life

Master your emotions and upgrade your life. But, how?

Become a better manager.

Getting a handle on your emotional state is not about control, it’s about management. Find out how to do just that in today’s Baby Step.

(#become a better manager) Image created by Deb Plotkin

BABY STEP

It’s hard to believe that yet another week has gone by and the pile of paperwork I plopped in my office remains. Why? Because, quite honestly,

I wasn’t ready to let it go.

Last night, I hosted a workshop about clutter. More accurately, about our emotional attachment to clutter. I know. I know. It’s hard to wrap your head around the concept of having feelings for the stuff that is literally the bane of your existence, but it’s true.

You see, the paperwork I’m referring to was not just random receipts or statements. Those pieces of paper held thoughts I had about life, ideas about how to help others, projects I wanted to work on. And yet, they did not come to pass. At first, I felt so much regret for not taking action in the moment (#practice what you preach).

What I realized, though, is that I was not prepared to take action. You see, most of those ideas required skills or resources I did not possess at the time. It feels so freeing to finally see that because I believed I was just lazy or didn’t make enough time to do those things.

And, now, I understand those ideas weren’t meant to be acted upon because something even better was waiting for me.

Besides, I had forgotten to look at everything I DID accomplish. All the classes I taught (over 500 Qigong classes), all the events I presented (over 150 workshops), all the blog posts I wrote (over 200 last year alone), all the YouTube videos I recorded (currently 209, not counting the dozens of shorts across YT and social media), all the success stories peeps shared with me throughout the last decade (literally thousands) and all the countless affirmations I've written and spoken (billions upon billions). All of this while raising two kids as a single Mom and working multiple jobs at once. So, I guess I’m not the slacker I thought I was after all.

And, as I transition into this new stage of my life, I refuse to drag old baggage behind me (#jacob marley). I’m letting it all go (I bet that song popped into your head the moment you read those words. LOL).

Here’s what I know is true…

What I need to know will be made available to me as I need to know it. What I don’t do was not meant to be done. What I don’t know how to do, I can figure out.

In other words, leaving outdated opportunities behind does not in any way prevent me from receiving newer and better opportunities every day. Something amazing is always available to me. ALWAYS. And, it works the same way for you, too.

So, join me in releasing what no longer serves us so we can embrace the beauty and the wonder and the excitement and the joy of the present moment as we create the life of our dreams NOW…not the life we thought we should have lived. In fact, here is a quick tip from my workshop for today’s Baby Step…

Remember this: Every time we have an emotional reaction, we have a physical reaction as well.

Here’s how to become more aware of those physical sensations so you can better manage your emotional ones:

• The next time you feel an intense emotion, take a moment to notice where you feel it in your body (Tension in your shoulders? Tightness in your jaw? Cramps in your belly? Pressure in your chest? Um…that one may require a doctor visit.)

• Make note of the emotion and its physical expression where you can access it easily. (On the inside cover of your journal? On an index card stuck to your fridge? In the notes section of your phone? Tattooed on your forehead?)

• The next time that twitch shows up, it’s reminding you that a strong emotion is about to blow in. (Like when black clouds roll across the sky just before a storm.)

• Heed the warning by taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that you don’t have to react to the emotion (#explode like a volcano). You are now wise enough to respond to it (#keep cool like a firefighter).

• Then say this: “Not today!” And let it roll on by just like those storm clouds.

• Remember…mastery requires practice. Just keep repeating these steps each time.

Now you’ll be able to manage your emotions and predict the weather. Who knew?

PS Check out this week’s affirmations HERE. They were written by my extraordinarily talented 11 year-old niece who’s been practicing woo-woo stuff with me since she was a toddler. In fact, she inspired the workshop and wrote the entire presentation herself.

Then, stay tuned for next week when we talk about how our thoughts affect our clutter.