Become Your Own Puppet Master

A had a client this morning who was telling me how upset he was after a work colleague said something that he perceived as hurtful.

I use the word "perceived" deliberately! Why you may ask, well...

So often we hear people (and ourselves) say "they made me feel so angry" (or mad or even happy. In fact any emotion you think of.) I am a firm believer in this meaning we have not got control of our own emotional selves.

What actually makes us feel an emotion, good or bad, is a choice we have as to how we choose to respond.

Just imagine that three different people all say "I love you" to you. One of them just happens to be your crush; one is a complete stranger and the thirds one is someone who you wholeheartedly dislike.

The same message three times!

Do you react the same way to each? NO, you do not.

The first makes you feel so good as if you are on cloud nine. The second makes you wonder what is wrong with the person (even though you justify you are loveable), you'll probably wonder what that person's ulterior motive is, after all, you're strangers to one another. The third will make you angry and irritated.

Same statement three completely different emotions.

This shows us that a statement does not necessarily create a set emotion into play, rather that we have the power to choose what to feel. We have the power!

Never let anyone's opinions or comments influence how you view your own life and choices.

We need to consciously choose to be our own "puppet master" cut those strings that others have been pulling.

It is time to create positive change in our own lives, let's start by owning our own emotions.

This does not mean you are not allowing yourself to be emotionless, rather it's about deciding what will and will not be a catalyst to the emotions you choose to feel and express.

What one change are you going to make starting today?