We can feel touch and pain and pleasurable sensation; we can feel both positive and negative emotions, and as with any gift that is given to us, what we do with our feelings is up to us.
In our chaotic, busy and difficult lives, we are bombarded with tons of negative information, problems and decisions; our feelings can overtake us like a tsunami, leaving us exhausted and angry, making us say and do things that we later regret.
When we submit to our feelings we become slaves to our negative emotions.
We spin in to confusion, isolation and negativity and we lose control of the situation; therefore we dig ourselves into a deeper hole, get more upset and say or do things that later we will be embarrassed by.
If we can recognize and manage our emotions we can gain control over the way we react to challenges and enjoy more fulfilling relationships.
When I was young, naïve and idealistic, I thought that this is the way we are supposed to live - just according to our feelings.
After years of some losing battles with my conscience, I realized that may be "living according to my feelings" motto, is not exactly what people make it out to be.
I started to search for a better way.
What I finally found out was that we are not supposed to live and act on our feelings alone.
We are supposed to live by common sense, making the right choices and pragmatic decisions.
I can feel something, but it does not mean that I have to act on it.
I can choose to do the right thing in the midst of my temper tantrum.
I can choose to bite my tongue in the midst of a fight with my husband, my child, my friend or my boss.
I can choose to ignore something rather then pick a fight.
I can choose to forgive someone even if I feel angry and hurt.
I can choose not to do something that I feel like doing and do the right thing instead.
I am the one that makes a choice.
My feelings are not in control.
(Of course if I allow them to be, then my feelings and emotions will gladly take over.
) I remember the feeling of defeat, every time I would tell myself, "I just can't help it, this is how feel", and the nagging feeling of regret that I felt in the pit of my stomach after I let my feelings get the upper hand.
I made a choice; I am in control of my emotions! I choose to live by common sense, and rise above anger, frustration and guilt.
This is my new motto! It took some time for me to get to this point; but oh, how sweet the taste of freedom! I am talking about the freedom from irritability, self-condemnation and regret.
I sincerely hope that my example will make you take a second look at how overstated the thought" Because I feel like it", is.
May you always choose to do the right thing.
I guarantee that you will FEEL a lot better.