What is a feelings map and why might you need one?
Well, recognizing your feelings and their roots is one of the most powerful time management skills you can develop.
Sometimes that means naming your feelings in a particular moment. And sometimes you need to look back to find their echoes in your past.
Either way, you’re creating your feelings map when you do this. And you can rest assured that the time you spend exploring your emotions will energize you for whatever tasks you face.
Your feelings map: The details are key.
There’s more to you and your feelings than “happy,” “sad,” and “angry.” Those words make a good start. But when it comes to creating your feelings map, the nuances matter.
So, try thinking of your feelings as being like colors. The actual range and variety of your emotions is more like what you find in a 64 or 128-crayon box than an 8-crayon set.
Your feelings are linked to your early experiences and memories. They are as unique as your DNA. And they are that foundational, as well. So the more you know about them the better off you’ll be.
Looking Back Helps You Move Ahead
Imagine that you are puzzled by your very strong reaction to a difficult person or a stressful situation. You don’t know where it came from, and its intensity is unsettling.
Or maybe you are procrastinating about a task and just can’t get past the first step. But you don’t know why you’re so stuck.
These are times when you can move ahead powerfully by looking back.
When you feel things or behave in ways that seem mysterious or disturbing or just plain illogical, pause and look back. When you do that, you’re likely to discover the missing keys. They fall into place like puzzle pieces.
That’s because the heart has a logic that isn’t always apparent to the mind.
Still puzzled? Your feelings map will help.
Creating a feelings map is a powerful skill. You trace the route of your reactions. And once you discover where they are coming from, you’re in a position to make more grounded choices about how to proceed.
So, if your response to stress puzzles you, try looking back and remembering how your parents or other important people in your life responded to stress. Or remember how you felt in third grade when your homework wasn’t finished and you had to leave for school.
These feelings left unexplored, can sabotage your responses in the present. And as they become visible to you, you hold the power. You needn’t be driven by them.
It’s a deep logic, the logic of the heart.
Looking back brings your heart and mind into sync so that you can move ahead powerfully. It’s a process of unfolding that will open up doors you haven’t yet even imagined for yourself.
And here’s more for you:
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 direction 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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