learning from your emotions sounds a bit crazy but it has actually helped me quite a bit. unfortunately, my work place provides me a great deal of opportunities to be frustrated, mad and irritated. I work with a lot of people that are (in my opinion) lazy, selfish and incompetent. of course, these are by my standards. I have high standards for myself and those around me. my judging mind feels like others should do their job to their best ability - but clearly, that is not the case.
I realized that these people that get me wound up are controlling my emotions. whenever I get angry, I try to ask myself what is causing that anger. seeing others do a poor job and then get away with it irritates me. not taking care of customers and serving your own best interests irritates me. the fact that they don't give a crap irritates me. but then if I think about it, I just said "people that get me wound up are controlling my emotions." You would think that only I control my emotions. turns out I do.
When you feel emotions (and you will) it is a good idea so think about why you feel the way you do and what is causing it. I know many of you will think of anger and say it is some @#$%! that caused you to be upset. but maybe after that emotion subsides you can look inside to see why you were angry.
in my own experience, I realized that I let these other people, places or things make me mad. Most of the time, they are not affected at all by what they are doing. In my case, the guy who comes in late, takes half-a-day smoke breaks and works as little as possible is not the least bit angry - heck, he is probably perfectly content with how things are going.
when you are worried, upset, angry or frustrated, take a moment to think about what is causing that emotion and identify what you need to do to change that negative emotion. If something makes you happy, excited or joyful - do the same thing. try to be "in control" instead of "being controlled."
