Habits for Feeling Better

How Feelings Affect Behavior

Think about the last time you kicked ass and took names at work or home.  Maybe you finished a major project, or cleaned the house top to bottom.  Now think about the way you felt while accomplishing those things?  It's a pretty sure bet you didn't feel depressed or full of rage.  Instead you likely felt driven or excited.  It is so much easier to do the things we want to do when we are feeling good.  In the article below, I will show you how to create those good feelings, but in the meantime, what do we do about the feelings that cause pain?  Well, you FEEL them.  The fact of the matter is that the human experience is not all pleasure and happiness.  If we don't know what feeling bad feels like, it's hard to appreciate feeling good.  

So what does feeling bad have to do with behavior?  When you don't allow yourself to feel your feelings, those feelings come out in a variety of different and often confusing ways.  Perhaps you are in a work meeting and find yourself raising your voice to a co-worker, or becoming easily frustrated with your children or partner when you normally wouldn't.  

So allow yourself to feel your feelings.  Sit with them awhile and don't try to ignore them or cover them up.  Only then will you be ready to move on to feeling better.

Habit Tips to Live By - How to Feel Better Immediately

After we have felt our feelings (see article above), letting the current feeling go may be all we need to feel better.  However, if you still need a boost, you can change your feelings immediately by thinking a new thought.  Here is how it works:

1.  Decide How You Want to Feel - what is the new emotion you want to feel?  Make sure it is one that serves you.  For instance, don't choose feeling fearless when you are standing on the edge of a cliff.  Maybe you want to feel peaceful, or excited.  The decision is yours.

2.  Think a Thought That Evokes That Feeling - only you know what makes you happy, thrilled, grateful, etc. but here are some suggestions:

Think about a family vacation that you loved

Think of your child sleeping peacefully

Think of the funniest thing you have heard/seen recently

Think about one experience you are grateful for                                                           

3.  Turn it Into a Tiny Habit® - Prompt/Behavior/Celebration

Example - "After I have felt my current feeling I will think a thought that evokes the new feeling I want to experience and I will smile."

The Collective Collection

I am NOT an affiliate of any of these products.  I just use them and think they are cool.

This is a section where I highlight some of my favorite items related to Health. Wealth. Happiness and Home.  Click on the picture to be taken to more information.

Health - Start a Cold Brew Habit

If you are like me, the thought of black coffee is unpleasant (and that is putting it mildly).  However, there is something about iced coffee that really lessens that bitter taste and I am able to happily drink it plain with no cream or sweetener.  This is great news for those of us who like to practice intermittent fasting.  Drink on!

Wealth - Embracing Minimalism

Ok so maybe you like your belongings and don't want to pare down drastically.  That is perfectly fine.  There are still so many ways to pare down what you have to make room for more...JOY.  I love this page for inspiration.

Happiness - Loving Reality

If you can focus on the overall message of this book and not get hung up on the specific examples or "woo woo" factor, this book is truly mind changing and will help your relationship with anyone.

Home - A soak worthy tub

I love taking baths, but my back hates cleaning the bathtub.  I bought this cordless, electric scrub brush and it makes cleaning my tub a breeze.  So much so I have been known to take a bath right after cleaning the bathtub!