How to Use Emotional Alchemy to Hit Your Goals
For part 3 of our guide to take back control of your thoughts we’re sharing how to use your thoughts to activate your emotional alchemy. Think about the last time you were sad or mad about something outside of your control. How did you feel about those around you? You probably weren’t very nice right? This happened because whether you realize it or not your thoughts greatly influence your emotions.
Emotions Control Unconscious Behavior
Emotions control reactions that you don’t consciously control. Think of it this way, when you have fearful or stressful thoughts, your heart rate increases and you may start to sweat. You don’t control either of these reactions, but they happened just because of the thoughts you were having.
And oftentimes these unconscious behaviors can affect or seem to cause your emotions. In the above example, when your heart rate increases and you start to sweat, this may cause you to feel agitated, and if you aren’t careful, you may lash out at those around you.
How Thought-loops Can Sabotage Your Success
Because of the ability of your thoughts to control your emotions, this makes thoughts very dangerous especially if you think of the same thought over and over. A good example would be someone who had experienced something traumatic and who keeps thinking about what happened over and over.
This can cause them to go through their days with their heart rate elevated and feeling more fearful. This can cause lasting damage to the body as well as the person's control over their emotions.
This is especially true when it comes to conditions such as depression. When you find yourself caught in a thought loop that you repeat over and over, especially if the thought is sad, this can lead to long-term conditions such as depression. And once it gets this far, it usually takes help to get out of it.
Working On Your Thoughts To Help Your Emotional Alchemy
If reading this is reminding you greatly of yourself and all of the emotions you feel every day, then it’s probably time to change your thoughts so you can regain control of your emotions. The best way to do this is by stopping damaging thought loops which you know affect your emotional well-being, such as thinking of something which hurt you.
If you are having trouble figuring out which of your thoughts cause negative emotions, this is a case where it would help to have a journal, that way you can sit down and work out what thoughts lead to which emotions. Then you can also write down thoughts that can counteract these thoughts which lead to bad emotions.
When In Doubt, Clear Your Mind
For those who struggle with controlling the thoughts which affect your emotions, you can really benefit from clearing your mind. This is often easier said than done. But one of the best ways to work on clearing your mind is by spending some time in meditation each day.
And the best part is, that you don’t have to be trained in meditation to benefit from it. Simply take a few minutes every day where you sit quietly and check-in with all the parts of your body. You can also download an app to guide you. Regardless of what you pick, you’ll find you feel much more emotionally in control after a period of meditation.
If you want to learn to better control your emotions and emotional responses to events in your life, then you must first learn to control your thoughts. This is because your thoughts unconsciously control your emotions.
You can start this process by stopping thought loops, counteracting negative thoughts, and clearing your mind. Before you know it, you’ll be living a new life where you control your emotions. Join us in Better You In 52 to learn how!
Read part 4 here >>>
