In this human race the emotional connections for many of us are as strong as our biological ties.
Our desire for acceptance and inclusion can be so powerful that we fail to apply logic to our thought process.
Impulse buying, a common driver to the advertising media, is but a minor manifestation of this enigma.
All too common is the sad scenario of an aborted dream or forgone pleasure for no other reason than a unqualified opinion or misdirected remark.
- You’re not (good, smart, rich, …) enough
- You’ll never be (successful, popular, happy, …)
- That’s really (stupid, silly, weird, …)
- You’re (worthless, dumb, odd, …)
- I can’t (depend on, be seen with, stand) you
Sometimes we justify our emotional reaction by giving power or authority to the source – they are my parent, teacher, boss. Alternatively we react illogically out of fear for rejection – that of a peer, social clique, or idol.
Whatever the reason or justification we allow a small insignificant voice to defeat our natural, logical thought process and change the course of our lives.
The impact can be a short detour if we can recognize the emotion for what it is, assess it from a purely logical perspective and make a pointed effort to get back on track and focus on what really matters to us.
The longer we take to realize the impact of our emotions, the greater the effort and time to get back on track but with patience, persistence and the knowledge that we can overcome our emotions we have the strength to put our focus back where we want it and work toward our true goals.
Allow me to illustrate:
You’re in your car, happily driving down the road, when another driver unexpectedly passes you (although you’re keeping up with the speed limit in their mind you’re driving too slow), displays their “opinion” in an unpleasing gesture, and cuts back in front of you too short causing you to react quickly by swerving off the road into the shoulder where you run over debris resulting in a flat tire.
In the moment your emotions run wild (anger, frustration, anxiety, guilt) as you apply logic to the situation and find a safe place to change your tire (or better yet call for help). This thoughtless and inconsiderate act by another human being, over whom you have no control, has negatively impacted your journey leaving you with a choice – do you abort your plans and return to where you started (forever shrouding your failed trip with the misdirected blame you impart on the other driver) or do you accept that you are in control of your emotion and choose, after a short delay, to forge on toward your destination.
The time it takes you to make a decision and get your focus back on your journey, along with the distance to your destination will depend on the length of your journey and the distance to your goal. If you’re in the first day of a cross country trip and fix your tire so you’re back on the road quickly this incident will have little impact on your overall journey. On the other hand, if you’re on the way to the grocery store down the street and you need to wait for help, the incident could result in a major delay in achieving your goal – but with focus you’ll still get there.
Often when we look back on situations similar to this we realize they are just a small bump – most times not even a bump but more like a prick (painful but usually short lived) – in the road along our journey.
Do your emotions sometimes get the best of you. Would you benefit from a safe way to take control of your emotions, apply logic to any situation, and focus on what really maters to you? Join me on a S.E.L.F. Odyssey and learn a new way to express yourself on a Journey Through Art.
