We've all heard the phrase, If it feels right, do it. Whether it's making a decision to have pre-marital sex, going to work, or being kind, society has trained many people to adapt to a feeling-driven mentality that says, I'll do whatever I feel like doing. Consequently, most people have disregarded the need for a standard for decision making and have allowed their emotions to be the basis or the deciding factor for every decision they make. However, emotions are unstable, which is why people who live by them find themselves in a cycle of unsettling ups and downs. Many of them long for a stabilizing effect that will sustain them and carry them through the uncertain times of life. So how does one exit the emotional rollercoaster he or she has traveled for years, sometimes decades, and transition to the stability of wise decision making?
In order to live a life with your emotions in the proper perspective, you must get an understanding of emotions. According to Dictionary.com, emotions are "the part of the consciousness that involves feeling." They are feelings on the inside caused by pain or pleasure that are trying to move you in a certain direction. Emotion is a directional word, yet many people don't understand that their emotions are responsible for where they are and ultimately where they'll end up in life.
When people talk about emotions, they often go from one extreme to the next: either they totally deny their emotions or they allow their emotions to control them. However, the key to understanding emotions is balance—finding that middle ground where you can recognize and enjoy them, without having them lead you and control the decisions you make.
Everyone will experience a vast spectrum of emotions, but it is important to learn how to control those emotions, because when they control you they will destroy you. For example, you will feel hurt sometimes, but you should never allow that hurt to cause you to lash out in anger or hurt someone else. As an individual, you've got to develop control over your emotions through practice. Failing to do so will further nourish the emotional rollercoaster and prevent the ability to exit before there's tragedy.
If you are looking for a way out, here are a few things you can do:
1. Develop a standard for decision making, or a basis for every decision you make. For example, one standard might be waiting at least 24 hours before making any decisions. This will help you begin to make decisions based on a standard and not how you feel. 2. Admit and recognize your feelings; don't suppress them or act like they don't exist. 3. Once you have recognized your feelings, put them in proper perspective. 4. Don't make any decisions based on your feelings. Refer back to your standard and make your decisions based on that standard, not how you feel at the moment. 5. Practice. Practice. Practice.
You can have either positive or negative emotions, but you have to develop the ability to control them. Your emotions are a gift God gave you to enjoy life and love. Don't allow that gift to be perverted.
Contrary to popular opinion, it's not all about how you feel. You can control your emotions, and consequently the direction of your life. So where do you want to go? It's up to you. Get off the emotional rollercoaster right now. Make a quick exit to a life where you make sound decisions. You'll be glad you did!
"What's Moving You?"
Price: $28.00 – CD
You can control your emotions. You have the ability to keep your emotions from moving you out of the will of God. Learn to distinguish between emotional decisions and Word-based decisions. In What's Moving You, Dr. Creflo A. and Taffi L. Dollar team up to define emotions and the role they play in our lives. In this dynamic 4-message teaching, you'll learn how to implement change in your life by keeping emotions in the right perspective. If you can control your emotions, you can absolutely win!
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