7 Gifts from God - Balance Part 4

Staying balanced also involves the controlling your mind and thoughts. So many times we get wrapped up in the things going on around us that we forget that we are in control of our thoughts and emotions. We do not have to be slaves to our egos. Sometimes we get stuck on the roller coaster of thoughts that only drag us down and really serve no purpose other to help us reaffirmed in our current low state of minds and to have an excuse for the way we act or feel. We can choose to say positive instead of negative and we can help do this by repeating positive affirmations, you can use some of the ones here. 
An example of getting wrapped up in our emotions: when we are wronged by someone and we replay the scenario over and over again in our minds and sometimes we replay different outcomes that will never be. Why?! If this kind of thought pattern only continues to raise our emotions in a negative way and creates and simmers animosity, why continue it?  As we all know, this only hurts ourselves and not the other person. Most of the time the other has already let it go and no longer has an emotional charge regarding the situation. So this is one example of how we torment ourselves with things we cannot change but refuse to let go of. Other times its conversations or arguments to come that get replayed. 
The real challenge starts when you are charged with the responsibility of realizing these thought patterns as they occur. Once you can identify with the fact that you are repeating and replay things that no longer serve you, you can choose to stop the thoughts. If you start to notice that you are back to replaying them, once again stop yourself and reiterate to yourself that this thought no longer serves you. When you can start to notice your emotional charge you can start to trace it to the thought that helped get you all worked up. 
Being emotionally charged is not a fun place to be, whether its from fear, anger, a since of being right or a feeling of being wronged. All these states make you vulnerable to your emotions and you are longer in charge of your thoughts and actions. Have you ever done something in anger that you later regretted?? This is how you can stop that before it happens, by you being in control, always! I recently heard someone ask the question, "would you rather be right or happy?" I think that's a hard question to answer, even for myself; but when we let go of our egos, we can choose to be happy.
Not only can being in control of your thoughts improve your overall mood and since of self but it can help with your personal relationships and professional ones. When you can learn to detach from situations and not allow yourself to become emotionally charged you keep your power! No one can take your power from you unless you give them permission to do so; or as Eleanor Roosevelt said "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent". This is so true! 
As you start to make this change in yourself, people will notice, and for a while may try harder to get you to engage in their emotional charge and want you to be just as worked up as them, but once they realize they no longer have this power over you, they will let it go. Arguments can be avoided, or at least handled differently, and conflicts can be resolved not only faster, but more peacefully. When people start to notice this about you, you'll find the drama and chaos either no longer bothers you or leaves your life altogether, leaving you to be and stay in a more peaceful frame of mind. 
These same tactics can also be applied to situations that do not involve other people. If you have a quick temper it can help with that as well. If you get road rage or get upset when you lose or misplace something, or anything that makes you quick to anger, being in control can help reverse this trait. Anytime you find yourself upset or angry STOP and ask yourself why. This is how you start. Find the root cause of what you are feeling and why. Most of the time it is a thought you replay as mentioned above, or its a situation or person, but really stop, take a few deep breathes to calm yourself down and then really ask "why am I feeling this way?". 
Once you find the why you can work on reversing it. Your next question to yourself will be "do I want to continue to feel this way/emotion?"; if the answer is no then keep going, if the answer is yes, then that's a whole other can of worms. So if you answer no, remember, you can choose to stop the emotion even if the situation isn't resolved yet because stopping the emotional roller-coaster is one step closer to resolving the conflict. When you have a clear frame of mind and can step outside of the issue and see it as an outside person you can find different perspectives you couldn't see when you were all worked up and you can allow the divine answer to come to you. 
Yes, I said divine answer, because Spirit wants to help you solve all your conflicts, even those with someone else. And if you let go of "being right" in favor of "being happy", Spirit can really make some wonderful changes in your life. You have to remember, we are all equal, we are loved and cherished by Spirit, so while He may want the best for you, He also wants the best possible outcome for the other person(s) as well. So once you are calm and divorced from the emotions you are ready to pray about it and look for the answers Spirit will bring, with Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, Spirit will bring a wonderful outcome for the highest good of all involved. Be patient and wait for Him to come through, He always does. 
If you find, when you asked yourself "do I want to continue to feel this way/emotion", you answered yes, this means there is a much deeper issue playing into the situation. Sometimes we can't let go of things because we really need to heal from them and forgive ourselves and others, and dig out the root of the issue that has festered. You cannot continue to "band-aide" the emotions and resulting anger, you really have to dig the infection out of you spiritually and emotionally to be able to heal on a level deep enough to create change and allow you to move forward. If this is something you find you need to deal with I suggest finding a professional to talk to. Do this immediately! Do not put this off! You can talk to a therapist, spiritual counselor, a pastor, or confidant on the same spiritual path as you, but be sure to share and let it all out. You will love yourself more for it. 
Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, progress or changes you are experiencing! Please continue to follow along and you can follow me at any of the social media links above or email me. Blessed Be!