Are you experiencing anger, resentment, or jealousy?

If so, where are those negative emotions stemming from?

What result are you hoping for by experiencing those emotions?

If you are currently experiencing any negative emotions (anger, resentment, jealousy, etc.), take a few minutes to recognize them and think about what might be the root cause. Are you choosing to feel those emotions with a desired outcome of changing someone else?

This quote by Shannon Alder is insightful because it helps you realize that any negative emotion you are choosing to feel has a direct impact on you and your state of well-being, not necessarily on others.

I recently did a video on this topic where I asked each viewer to think about one thing they did not like about someone, either in their life or in the public eye, and what emotions it brought up when they thought about that one thing. Was it anger, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, hostility, hatred?

Once they discovered what that emotion was, I wanted each person to take a hard look within and discover what it was about him or herself that they did not like.

Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. If there is something bothering us, it is our own inner struggle as opposed to a specific person or people that we think are the cause of that emotion.

Take a minute and try this for yourself.

Think about one person that may rub you the wrong way or push one or two of your hot buttons. What is it specifically that bothers you? What is it about them that you possibly need to acknowledge within yourself?

Our negative emotions affect who we are being. They will not change who anyone else is being. Change happens from the inside, not the outside.

I do this exercise often when faced with a situation or person that causes me some discomfort. It allows me to discover what it is within me that may be neglected or under-nourished. Once I can pinpoint what it is, which can take time, I can then begin working on changing from within instead of projecting my negative emotions outwardly with an expectation of changing the external.

Remember, it is you who gets to choose what you feel, no one else. So choose wisely, as the only person you are hurting is yourself.

Now it’s your turn.

How does this quote inspire you?

Tell me about an instance where your negative emotions tampered with your state of well-being and how long you allowed it to take place.

Did you choose to feel this way with the intention of changing someone or something? If so, did it work? Were you able to recognize the conflict within you?

Contact me or share your thoughts below in the Comments section.

Let’s get the discussion going.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Together we can become stronger individuals.

Educate. Engage. Evolve.