What are you feeling right now? Notice it and name it.
As I write this, I'm feeling distracted. I have house projects that I want to be working on, and my brain is telling me those projects would be more fun than writing this blog.
This distracted feeling cues actions like checking FaceBook Marketplace several times a day looking for items that my projects need. Or making price lists, or googling design ideas and daydreaming.
Then I remember I have a business to run, or dinner to make or bedtime to get ready for. Now I feel focused again, so my actions shift back to taking care of those things.
.... Until those house projects pop into my mind again.
This cycle continues as long as I allow my Feelings to drive my life.
Because our Feelings cue our Actions.
If I am feeling excited, I'm going to do things like jump up and down, verbalize what I'm excited about, call friends to share my exciting news with them, put the exciting date on my calendar, jump out of bed in the morning, spin in my brain about the exciting thing, etc.
If I'm feeling annoyed, I'm going to do things like roll my eyes, give a sharp response, avoid people or places that annoy me, honk my car horn, gossip to others about what I find annoying, have a narrow-minded view, spin in my brain about the annoying thing etc.
Noticing what you're Feeling is a simple thing you can do throughout the day to make meaningful connection with yourself.
Especially when you notice a strong emotion; Simply ask, What am I feeling right now?
Name it, then ask, Why is it here?
This investigation is great insight into where the emotion is coming from.
Identify in your body what that emotion feels like:
Courage is solid, but not heavy, in my chest and a stillness in my mind.
Anxiety is flighty in my chest and achy in my arms.
Anger is tight in my jaw and heat in my face.
Hope is lightness in my entire torso and swelling in my heart.
Distraction is dullness in my body, but spinning in my mind.
When you have this connection with what you're Feeling, your actions won't surprise you or take you places you don't want to go because you'll recognize it before you react to it.
This takes practice of course. And the beautiful thing is, there are abundant opportunities for practicing our Feelings.
When I notice the familiar feeling of distraction, I can redirect myself back to focus, rather than follow it and then lose an hour of work.
Noticing how much I'm enjoying the house projects, I actually schedule time to work on them. So when my brain wants to work on them instead, I remind myself I have scheduled time for it.
This kind of discipline builds self-respect and resilience.
Actions that come from THOSE feelings will help you cross the bridge to your goals.
So, What are you feeling right now?
Xo,
Meredith
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