HOW WE CAN CHANGE HOW WE FEEL
Last week, everyone I know is talking about the college admissions scandal. While I could write a whole blog post about greed, what parents may be teaching their kids about how money can buy your way into anything, or how athletics trumps academics...instead, today's guest blogger, Laverne McKinnon, wants us to, first, change how we FEEL ...
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
– Viktor Frankl
It’s a beautiful sunny day and you’re walking down a quiet neighborhood street minding your own business as you ponder what you want for breakfast. You see a 50 pound white Labrador, off-leash, trotting down the sidewalk towards you. What’s the thought that pops into your head?
Do you think “What a sweet dog, I wonder where it’s owner is?” Do you think “Who’s the jerk who let their dog run away?” Do you think “That’s a really big dog, I don’t want to get bit.” Do you think “I really don’t have time to deal with a lost dog.”
Each of these thoughts lead to an emotion. It could be concern, anger, fear, frustration. It’s the same situation –a 50 pound white labrador, off-leash, trotting down the sidewalk towards you – but depending on your experiences, your current frame of mind, and your belief system, you will have a unique thought that pops into your head.
And that thought will trigger an emotion. And that emotion leads to a response. You might call out to the dog, you might look around for its owner, you might cross to the other side of the street, you might ignore it.
There’s an important difference between the truth and a thought and a feeling. The truth is there’s a dog walking down the street. What happens next – your thought - is up to you. You have the choice to keep or replace your thought with something that will be helpful or hurtful. And that thought will affect how you feel.
You have the ability to push the pause button once a thought comes into your head. You have the ability to elongate that space between stimulus and response. You have the ability to use this space to choose a thought that positively impacts your feeling.
Yes, you can change your thought. It’s a muscle that needs to be strengthened – and will grow with practice.
Simple, not easy.
Laverne McKinnon is a certified coach who works with smart, driven people who are longing for deeper connection and to have a significant, positive impact in the world. She’s a life-long learner and holds many certifications including grief therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Laverne’s passion is helping individuals to access their courage & wisdom, discover their life purpose and live their own unique values… ultimately, achieving outer accomplishment through finding inner meaning.
Laverne, Sandie Bass who was the featured guest blogger last week, and I are hosting a workshop this coming Sunday, March 24th. If you're in the Los Angeles area, we would love to show you how to change how you feel and also:
👉 release stress and boost your energy
👉 learn techniques to worry less
👉 shift your energy so you can manifest your dreams
👉 create a life you want with grace and ease!
I'll also be showing you how to shift your energy to bring in more money and how to stop the worries around money. It's going to be a transformative day, and we're almost filled! So, sign up HERE today! We hope to see you there!
With Gratitude,
Previous Comments
Annie I love the idea of stretching the space between stimulus and response; allowing our thought to be a conscious choice rather than a reflex. Nicely put!👍 Thanks!
March 19, 2019, 12:15am
Katy Yes, Isn’t it a good reminder that we all have a choice?
March 19, 2019, 12:38am