Watch your thoughts, for they affect your feelings.
Watch your feelings, for they affect your actions.
Watch your actions, for they affect your destiny.
It is essential to remember that our thoughts affect the way we feel, which in turn leads us to taking certain actions. The opposite is also true; our feelings affect our thoughts, and these thoughts can lead us to behave in certain ways.
We often make decisions based on emotions, thinking that these are rational decisions, and not realizing that it is actually our feelings that are affecting us deep down. Whenever you want to take a decision, make sure you ask yourself these questions: “Why am I taking this decision? Is this really the best decision I can take? Am I letting someone or something specific affect me? What would all the possible positive and negative outcomes be if I do this? What would the results be if I don’t do it? What would happen if I actually do the opposite? Do I have any other options?” Also, always make sure that you don’t take any decisions when you’re angry or upset. We need to learn to be aware of where our thoughts are coming from. We all know that the best decisions are usually the rational ones, but are they really always “rational”? What is causing us to think the way we do? This is a very important point to consider. Self-awareness is key to solving and avoiding many uneasy situations.
Another point to keep in mind is how we can change the way we feel. Since our thoughts are affected by our emotions and vice versa, it is important to learn how we can control our emotions. There are lots of articles on different ways of managing emotions, but research shows that one of the fastest ways to changing how we feel is by changing our physical state. Engaging our five senses in things that make us feel good, exercising, and improving our posture all immediately make us feel different and think clearer.
Whether it’s through meditation, self-reflection, questioning, journaling, speaking out, or any other way, just make sure you become aware of what you’re thinking, and always remember that YOU are the one that controls your mind, and not the other way around. Not being aware of your thoughts and inner emotions might lead you to take some wreckless decisions, and you don’t want that, do you?! Dig deep, and know thyself well! Self-awareness is essential to wisdom.