Be Aware of Feelings

 

    Feelings are a gift from God.  They are indicators of when something is not right or when things are going well.  They are not the deciding factor of what is happening in life.  It is not all about being happy.  Happiness is a feeling.  Focusing on joy can help make happiness last, but is not guaranteed.

    It is your choice in how you look at life. You can focus on what is there or what is missing, broken or achieved, messed up or working, available or unavailable, possible or impossible, the excitement or the frightening.  How you approach life is on you.  The battle of the mind is real.  It is natural to go toward the negative.  That is why you have to work at changing how you think.

    Where you put your focus is going to shape your perspective.  The more you speak and think the more the outcome is likely to happen.  The more you focus on making something work, the more likely it will.  The more you invest in learning about and spending time with God, the stronger your positive feelings will become and consequentially the stronger important relationships will become.

    If your emotional life is not where you want it today, then it is time to shift your attentions to the blessings that God is placing in your life today.  Look at your strengths instead of weaknesses.  Acknowledge what is working instead of what is not working.  Resist the urge to turn to negative thoughts that lead to emotional spiraling.  

    Refuse to give any attention to the negative thoughts.  This can be very challenging for a realist.  They see both sides of the coin and try to fix what they can, but the negative is always there.  However, even realist can defeat negativity.  Write down all the good that God is doing in your life.  Write down your blessings, so that when negativity comes you can read all that God has given and is doing in your life.  

    In the beginning, your emotions may be heightened.  You can feel like you are on a roller coaster.  Ride it out.  Your emotions will stabilize.  If they do not, then maybe go to a doctor to make sure it is not a hormonal imbalance, but the fact that you can test for that is a blessing too.  Ultimately your focus will determine your feelings.

    Look at what you are reading, watching, studying, discussing, and pondering over.  Does it give life to your life or does it take away from your joy?  Where you put your mind is what will shape your thoughts and feelings.  What you internalize you will turn into emotions.  Starve worry, anxiety, doubt, fear, and all other things that lead to harmful emotions.  You can only produce positivity if you focus on what is good, right, and true.

Psalm 16:9-11, 34:15-18, 139:1-18, Proverbs 3:5-6, 4:23-24, 15:1-4, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 14:29-33, Ephesians 4:25-27, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossian 3:12-15, James 1:19-21, & 1 Peter 5:5-7