Some fun for your next journal entry

Distinguishing thoughts from emotions is more than a clever exercise; it’s crucial to a life well-lived.

Observation is one thing, but the story we tell ourselves in response to that observation is quite another.

With more inputs than at any time in history, we must be intentional about the stories we tell ourselves. Choosing how to respond to what’s coming through any of the five senses requires intention and reflection.

Now, let’s go deeper. Did you know we can have feelings about feelings? For instance, feeling shame for feeling angry or guilty about experiencing happiness. These are meta-emotions.

We gain objectivity by distinguishing what we think from how we feel. 

At every turn, we decide what story to tell ourselves - or whether we will tell one at all. 

See: Susan David’s Emotional Agility and Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way.