My Take on Feelings

The Purpose of Feelings

I’ve been thinking about the purpose of feelings.

Actually, having feelings is a gift, an asset, a blessing. It’s our inner GPS…our personal game of “hot” and “cold.” It delights us and warns us. It’s almost like our Guardian Angel, and it never sleeps. It’s your nocturnal BFF.

It’s what separates us from our furniture. Although I’ll admit, a few times I’ve moved my table and I can almost hear it saying, “I liked my old location better.” 

Animals have feelings. If you’ve ever been adopted by an animal, you know what I mean.

We, as humans, tend to categorize feelings as either good or bad. Actually, it’s what you do with those feelings that makes them good or bad.

Ew…Anger

For example, anger is often considered “bad”. But what if you lost your ability to feel anger? You’d turn into a doormat. People could walk all over you.

Even Jesus got angry. Remember the incident in the temple with the tax guys? And Jesus wept. I think that’s the shortest verse in the Bible, but it illustrates his humanity on top of his divinity.

Feelings are our divine legacy. I was recently reminded how much words affect our  feelings. Now, I’m not blaming my mother. She sang a lot of beautiful songs to me as a baby. But I had a light bulb moment about one of those songs. It’s called “Rock-a-bye-baby”. I emphasize the word “bye”, and here’s why. 

Brace Yourself

Have you ever really listened to the lyrics? They were supposedly written by Effie Crockett, a relative of Davy Crockett, who wrote the lyrics in 1872 while babysitting a restless child.

Ok…here goes.

Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetops,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Did you catch the last line? “And down will come baby, cradle and all?” I can’t tell you how many times she sang me this lullaby? This isn’t just a lullaby… It’s a doomsday scenario!

I’m not scapegoating the song. My life has turned out pretty well. No damage done.

More Creepy Stuff

I know robots are being used more and more for surgery, and programmers are now trying to develop robots with feelings.

Maybe you’re thinking, “How cool!”

” I’m thinking, “ Creepy.”

I can just imagine you and your robot in therapy for your roommate issues.

It could even have global implications, like another Star Wars, and I doubt we’ll be the stars.

Bottom line, I’m thankful for my feelings…all my feelings. They make me a lot of things, but mainly they make me human.

http://www.stressbustercoach.com

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Cool It

One Word

If I tell you my process for going from 0-100 in the anger department, you’ll probably wonder how I can call myself a Spiritual Coach. Trust me…this is a race no one want to win. 

I used to be so calm and serene, and in many ways, I still am. So, what triggered the change?

I can tell you in one word: menopause. I think that’s why they call it “the change”.

If you’re a woman under the age of 45, go for the gusto. Relish your serene years. I don’t want to scare you, but they have an expiration date.

I’ll Tell You My Triggers

My three main triggers are computers, crowded places, and traffic, not necessarily in that order. It depends on the day.

Today it was computers. After conducting a Coaching session, I tried to send an email to my client. Murphy’s Law… Microsoft Word wouldn’t open.

Had I been hacked? Was my computer doing its frequent impression of the Slowsky turtles from the commercials?

Just as my amygdala was cooling down, giant red letters came across my screen… “YOU HAVE NO INTERNET… Strike two.

Did I mention grocery stores and crowded places? First, let me say I’ve learned my lesson from the confrontation I’m about to share. A few months ago, I was in line to check out when an older lady (meaning she was around my age), got so close behind me I thought we were going to merge.

At this point, I turned around and politely stated, “You’re in my space.” Without missing a beat, she screamed “SUCK IT UP” several times in a voice that could shatter glass. Even the cashier looked a little tense.

Physician, Heal Thyself!

Life can be challenging, but from now on I’m taking my own advice. When my thoughts take me to the danger zone, I’ll switch my mental channel to Comedy Central. 

Life lesson…keep my disgruntled thoughts to myself. I don’t know what this lady had been through that day, but I’m guessing it had something to do with a computer.

Question of the Day: What are your triggers?

Anger

Today’s reading is about anger