Emotions Archives - Page 22 of 23

February 6, 2016January 19, 2016 by Pete Wiley

Worry

Everyone, from Alfred E. Newman on, seems to offer advice about how to handle worry. But at some point or another, we all do it.

Nobody makes a conscious choice to worry. It’s a very unpleasant feeling, and it generally doesn’t fix the problem. It can also rob us of our peace of mind.

Everyone worries, but by recognizing it for what it is and acknowledging the effect it has on us, we can minimize those effects. In my experience, once I recognize and accept a negative feeling, it brings it out into the light of day, and this somehow makes it less scary.

January 9, 2016December 13, 2015 by Pete Wiley

Negativity

What do we do when negativity rears its ugly head?

We can try to always be positive and optimistic, but we can’t control it when others are negative.

However, by categorizing others’ words or actions as negative, we necessarily attach our own judgments to them and actually contribute to those words or actions being negative. We feed their negativity.

But what about inconsiderate drivers, rude retail clerks, catty relatives, surly teenagers, arrogant coworkers (I could go on all day)? Aren’t these people’s words and actions inherently negative? Maybe, but it’s not that simple.

November 28, 2015November 28, 2015 by Pete Wiley

Clutter

“Why do we have all this junk?!”

It’s a question I ask myself quite often.

We have a small house, and it doesn’t take much to make it look and feel cluttered.

Don’t get me wrong, I love our small house. It’s cozy. It has plenty of space to work and live. It promotes “togetherness” as a family. But, as I tell my overly generous mother-in-law, our house is “full.” It has “exceeded capacity.” It is, in a word, cluttered.

It’s not that we’re disorganized. It’s not that we have a bunch of stuff lying around that needs to be put away. Everything is away, there’s just too much of it.

in Emotions / Proactive 0 comments

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 by Pete Wiley

Content

You are the gatekeeper!

Not like Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters. You are the gatekeeper for something real: the content of your consciousness.

Are you aware of your thoughts at any given moment? What goes through your head in the course of any given day? How much control do you have over your thoughts?

Let’s address these questions one by one.

in Emotions / Mindful 3 comments

July 25, 2015July 17, 2015 by Pete Wiley

Breathe

Do you consider yourself spiritual? What does that mean to you?

Spirituality can mean a deeper connection; a connection that transcends the corporeal and the rational. We can access those connections in a variety of ways, which are vital for a fulfilling life. For me, these include meditation, music, time spent in natural places (particularly the ocean), and time spent in the presence of those people who mean the most to me. In the way I perceive the landscape of the universe, these are the brightest lights, and I’m constantly drawn to them.

in Emotions / Open Mind 2 comments