Can You Really Choose How You Feel?
If you ask someone why they feel a particular emotion, most will reply that it’s just the way they are. It’s as if we’re programmed from birth with a particular emotional palette and that’s why we feel the way we do. It’s a natural extension of our personalities. Except, of course, that most of our emotional reactions are learned behaviours. In that respect, they’re somewhat artificial. They’re largely shaped by our early childhood experiences and we are all deeply imprinted by our exposure to these potent and irresistible forms of emotional conditioning. We repeat the embedded traits that we absorbed from our families and social connections un til they appear to be an inseparable part of who we are. Our emotional responses should really be described as a collection of habits. And this is an important point to consider because, if your emotions are not helpful, supportive, empowering or uplifting, it’s time to choose a better way of expressing your emotional potential.
We can launch the transformation by declaring that you are not your emotions. Those deeply familiar feelings are not It’s possible to relax, to breathe more deeply and create a sense of inner calm that reveals your ability to influence exactly how you feel. The more you practise this form of substitution, where you exchange a feeling of anger or stress for a positive outpouring of inner calm, the easier it becomes to detach yourself from whatever you’re feeling and introduce an uplifting stream of emotional energy. A moment of detachment that interrupts the old flow of limiting, negative reactions, followed by a simple and natural opening into a world of calm, confidence and optimism. This is the most efficient way for humans to respond to life’s inevitable challenges. By taking better control of your thoughts and feelings and inviting a more productive and life-enhancing stream of emotional energy into your consciousness, every aspect of your life will improve.