Today’s popular culture places a lot of emphasis on feelings and emotions. Social media, television, and movies, emphasize that we should focus on our emotions in difficult situations. Many argue that in order to address the current mental health crisis, we must validate everyone’s feelings, and allow those feelings to guide our actions.
Ask anyone to classify emotions, and they will line them up on two sides. Happiness, peace, love, and contentment reside on the positive side and stress, anxiety, anger, discontentment, fear, and hatred on the other.
Contrary to popular belief and practice, the key to success in a challenging world is to frame our emotions (and desires) in a moral code with responsibilities. In this perspective, everything changes.
Pressure and anxiety at work or school can be framed as a valuable tool to motivate good work on a project, preparation for meetings, and higher achievement. Insurmountable challenges met with faith and commitment become manageable. A focus on healthy habits for our bodies and minds helps to foster healthier relationships.
Your feelings shouldn’t be in the driver’s seat–you should be.
