Unfortunately, many people live each day on automatic pilot, not giving much thought to what they are thinking and feeling ... just simply responding to their experiences. And, you may not even realize that you have been triggered with a particular emotion.

For a healthy day use this exercise

Interrupt yourself several times throughout the day to ask:

Where was I a moment ago?

You may be appalled to discover how often you were wandering in dangerous places, both mentally and emotionally. Maybe you were in a storm of anger, or in a jungle of despair

You've probably heard the saying "Change yourself, change your experience"

By the simple act of observing yourself in action you give yourself the opportunity to create a proactive change in your life.

When your awareness is closed and you are on automatic pilot you are at the mercy of your emotional self and you may never know the harm it is doing to your physical and spiritual self.

For example, when you are frustrated it is likely that your heart speeds up, you might feel a sense of panic, your tummy might clench and your body language and words might start to become aggressive rather than assertive.

Often times you can look back and see how you were feeling or behaving. But that is not as powerful as capturing yourself in the moment. Being mindful of how you are behaving and feeling in the actual moment is when you begin to generate some great power for yourself.

Feelings Aren't Bad

Feelings aren't bad. In fact they are terrific, because they are a critical part of your human existence.

They are your warning system that something could not be quite right for you.

Or that your life is in total flow and synchronicity.

It is when you are unaware of them that the problems may occur for you ... your feelings could cause you to play out in ways that are not always the healthiest for you or for others.

Maybe look at identifying the message of the emotion:

Anxiety: What am I afraid of?

Sadness: What have I lost?

Anger: How have I or my values been attacked? How have I been trespassed against?

Happiness: What have I gained?

Putting it Into Action

Keep an emotions journal
Throughout the day, ask yourself "Where was I emotionally? What was I feeling"
Identify situations that trigger, magnify and dilute positive/negative emotions for you
Identify the feeling beyond the four main emotions of Fear, Anger, Sadness and Happiness (See the Feelings List)
Notice how different emotions impact on the performance of your daily tasks
Look for ways to 'get more of' the things that energize you