When you name your feelings you take a key step on the heart-based path to your time success.
Why is that?
I’d say, simply, that when you name your feelings, it’s like you are labeling towns and cities and roads on your inner map.
Identifying what you are feeling helps you know where you are. And it also helps you keep the elements of your life in balance.
As Brian Tracy has written: “Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.”
Name your feelings — turn on your GPS
Building on that car analogy, imagine that you are driving to your sister’s new house. She’s relocated, so this is unfamiliar territory for you. Now, imagine that you don’t have a map or GPS, and there are no street signs.
That’s, very literally, what it is like if you try to navigate your life without knowing what you’re feeling. It’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be exploring lots of dead-end streets and confusing cul-de-sacs.
So here’s a tip for you…
When it comes to navigating your life, learning to name your feelings is vital. This may sound very basic, but it is a big challenge for many people.
As you develop this skill, it is also a huge source of relief. And it will ultimately free up lots of energy for you.
To start, I suggest that you use a calendar or journal to make note of your feelings. There are also apps that you could use to do this.
Start small as you name your feelings…
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. I suggest that you begin by naming and recording one feeling every day. Take some time and pay attention while you do this. And aim to reflect on and answer the following 5 questions:
- What do I call this feeling?
- When did I become aware of it?
- How did it feel physically, in my body?
- Are there words or images that come to mind about this feeling? Write down 3.
- What do I tell myself about this feeling? Have I changed what I call it?
The Power of Naming:
Many people grow up without much help knowing about feelings.
The thing is, without words or names for them, your feelings are more or less invisible to you. And that makes it all the more likely that you’ll act and react off of them without realizing it.
Ironically, we are also often very critical of some of our feelings. This means that you may experience powerful resistance to this naming process, especially relative to feelings that you might deem “negative.”
So work to be open and compassionate with yourself as you explore and identify your feelings. Remind yourself that there are no “bad” feelings. They simply are what they are. Once you are able to see them, you are in a position to make informed choices about how to respond to your feelings. Conversely, as long as they remain hidden, they affect your life powerfully, and often unconsciously.
So how will you start to name your feelings and claim your power?
Here’s some help…
Do you ever feel like life is coming at you too fast and you’re getting lost in the shuffle?
Are you feeling at sea and rudderless? Unclear about what your priorities even are?
Well, a time tool that I want to tell you about today is my E-Guide titled “Why Can’t I Find My Direction?” 17 Journaling Prompts to Create Your Ideal Life.
This E-Guide gets right down to business as it walks you through 17 journaling prompts aimed at helping you come to a deeper understanding of
- Who you are,
- What you value,
- What makes you tick and
- How you relate to your time choices.
Understanding any ONE of these things more fully is a great gift to give yourself. So I invite you to follow your heart as you clarify your priorities and find your path with “Why Can’t I Find My Direction?” 17 Journaling Prompts to Create Your Ideal Life.
Click the link below to discover more about what’s possible for you.
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