Posts Tagged ‘Emotion’

You Want Me to Change?! Holy Smokes!

Chris Mower
May 11 |16:50

If you’re interested in business you know you have to attract customers, some of which will be using your competitor’s product. If you’re interested in leading, you know you have to have followers. If you’re interested in getting someone to change a behavior, you have to be convincing. If you’re wanting to change a person’s thoughts or opinions about something, you have to compel them to change by seeing that what you’re offering is the best for them.

There’s only one problem. People are naturally resistant to change. They don’t like it. Even if it’s better for them, they’ll kick and scream and shake their fists in the air. Why is that?

I think the answer is relatively simple.
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Can You Really Choose Your Attitude?

Chris Mower
Feb 10 |18:57

I’m writing about a subject that I still haven’t formed a solid opinion on yet. Maybe you can help me figure it out. But here are my thoughts on the matter today…

Can you really choose your attitude or mood? Can you really change from sad to happy, just like that? Sure, attitude and mood aren’t exactly the same, but they are closely related, and so for my purposes I’ll treat them equally.

I believe choosing your attitude is a highly misguided principle. It’s advice laced with good intention and it makes sense when dispensed, but when someone gives it to you, it becomes completely irrational and usually stirs up anger. I cut it from my repertoire for that reason. I’ve tried choosing my attitude countless times, especially on mornings when I wake up as Mr. Grumpy Pants, and guess what? It never works. Why? Well, I’m human and prone to emotions and feelings at any given time. And like anybody else, some things really get under my skin. I view advocates of “choosing your attitude” as telling me to forget I’m Chris and instead behave like xCM01-27.cpo, their personal robot who feels like they want me to feel and thinks how they want me to think. Phhhbbbt. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work. Please let me be angry when I’m angry; let me cry when I’m sad, and let me smile when I’m happy. These same people slather guilt on you for experiencing emotions when they don’t.

If you prefer to be human, please stand up. Stuffing a faux mood into yourself causes emotional constipation, instead choose to exhibit self control and turn your emotions into positive action and words. It’s not wrong to feel anger if someone angers you. It is wrong to fatten their lip and scream explicative words in their face; where’s the decency? Emotions are naturally part of you, but don’t let them rule you. Do you understand? It’s not about choosing your emotions, it’s about choosing your actions and what you say, no matter which emotion you’re feeling.

Do you agree? Do you disagree? Do you have another view on the matter? Let me know in the comments.