Emotional power is determined by your attitude - by Mark Divine of sealfit.com

Emotional power is determined by your attitude.

Is your glass half full or half empty? Do you see abundance all around you, so that you can just reach out and grab it, or is the world a scarce place where you have to carve out your slice? Are you generous or needy? The power to bounce back quickly when circumstances conspire against you is critical. How have you responded when you lost your job, been rejected by your first love or made a crucial mistake on your taxes? Do you allow negative emotions to take hold and confuse your thinking? Or do you draw from a deep well of optimism about the future and find the silver lining and more on?

There has been much discussion about the power of a positive attitude, focused on your mental states.

But isn’t it our emotional states that often torpedo our efforts even if we are “thinking positively?" So what emotional dog are you feeding? Emotions grounded in fear will bring you down, while those infused with love and courage will power you up. There are four requirements for emotional resiliency:

Self-Control

Gain control over your mind first and then extend this to your emotions. After all, emotions are like stored thoughts. You can witness them, interdict negative thoughts and redirect your mind to a positive thought linked to a positive emotion.

Self Esteem

Make habits of your new emotional states by training them. You will develop greater self-esteem in the process. Believe in your inherent goodness and value. Self-esteem is gained by leaning into this difficult work of emotional development, especially for you guys who prefer to ignore the mushy world of emotions.

Optimism

Start a daily focus on gratitude and all the positive things in your life. An idea is to begin your day with a gratitude prayer and end it with a reframing of any negative events. This morning and evening ritual will dig a deep well of optimism for you to drink from daily.

Eyes off Yourself

Empathy is a learned skill. Take your eyes off yourself and start to help others accomplish their mission. You’ll gain balance, equanimity and a generous attitude, which will strengthen your emotional resolve. In Victor Frankl's  book “Man’s Search for Meaning," he describes how he survived a Nazi concentration camp by turning away from his troubles and toward helping others survive.

These four practices will power your emotional life with depth and resiliency.

The synchronization of a positive mental state WITH a positive emotional state will accelerate your development. It requires a dedicated focus, but is worth it. Good luck!

Mark Divine