What's Driving You?

Have you ever experienced unpleasant emotions at inappropriate times? Have you cried in the middle of a bank transaction or gotten angry ordering a Whopper?

When people are overwhelmed, they often times experience emotions that do not fit with the situation. The key to understanding why you are having incongruent moments and reactions is to look at what is driving you.

1. Are you hungry? When people do not take in the right types and amounts of foods, they may experience lags of energy, anger or other negative side effects. Make sure that you are taking in plenty of nutritious foods that are vitamin packed and include protein. Follow up with plenty of water to keep hydrated.

2. Are you tired? Sleep deprivation is a major cause of many negative situations. Car accidents, explosive anger, inability to cope with stress and onset of illness are all caused from deprivation. Make certain to plan at least 7-8 hours of sleep into your normal routine. Learn to power nap and make rest a priority. It is true that you can not be there for others if you do not care for yourself.

3. Do you have unresolved issues? If you are ignoring issues in your life and shoving them aside into your subconscious, you are setting yourself up for surprise emotional attacks. Face your issues and address anything happening in your life so you are free from emotional flare ups.

4. Are you excited? What do you have in life that excites you? What do you look forward to? People who have a hobby or passion are far happier than those who work, go home, fight with the wife, watch tv and go to bed.

5. Do you know who you are? People who have higher esteem and truly know and like themselves are less likely to repress issues that can haunt them. Take time to always expand your self awareness about who you are and how fabulous you are and you will be less likely to experience negative reactions to people and situations. You will be better equipped to let things roll off your back instead of get under your skin.

In Your Weakest Moments, You Build Character and Strength

When you are at your weakest, you have the best opportunity to build strength. When all hope seems lost, you have the best opportunity to make change. When it seems like things are going nowhere, you have the best opportunity to create a new path.

I am sure that if you reflect on your past you will remember times when you thought that you were weak and found that you were strong. Did you survive a divorce, death, financial crisis or employment crisis. Didn't you find out that you were made of much more than you thought?

I remember a quote that goes something like this. The hotter the water, the stronger the tea. The same is true for you and I. We find that when the going gets genuinely tough, we somehow manage to put on our big person britches and get things done. We become stronger in the face of adversity and change.

I spent a lot of time beating myself up about weakness. I have always been anti-victim. I have always applauded strength. It is as if weakness is seen as, well, weak, and I do not like that adjective associated with me.

It takes a lot of fire to melt metal. It takes a lot of mettle to start a fire. You are stronger than you know. It is the heat that forges your strength. Be strong.