November 29th, 2007
We are all emotional beings and the better you are able to control your emotions, the happier you will be and the better you perform, in the Martial Arts and in life. Black Belt Leaders & Champions learn that they must control their emotions, or their emotions may control them. Training and exercise is absolutely the best way to rid yourself of stress and thoughts that lead your emotions toward the negative. Negative emotions…such as anger, depression, and sadness are often magnified by allowing tension to build up inside. Martial Arts training forces all the bad out and allows you to breath in the good.
Another great way to influence your emotions is to purposely feed your mind and body the good stuff by reading, listening and watching things that motivate and inspire you. It was Zig Zigler that said we must bath our brains daily just as we bath our bodies. Both tend to get dirty through use and exposure to the elements. By constant bathing, you tend to bring out your best emotions. If you allow yourself to constantly absorb the negatives, it’s like junk food for the brain, it can and will cause long term damage to your overall emotional well being.
Food also effects your mood. Some foods weigh you down and can make you feel like a load. Other foods, such a fresh fruits and vegetables give you energy and make you feel better. Black Belt Leaders & Champions strive to master their emotions, by programming themselves for success. Everything you see, hear and experience, influences your thoughts and emotions. Once you fully understand this, you may decide to be more aggressive on programming your thoughts everyday, by watching, listening and doing things that influence your emotions in a positive and empowering direction. This of course extends to the people you surround yourself with.
Doing this will help you to better control your anger, depression and/or those rare moments of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ that happen to us all. Positive programming leads you toward positive thoughts and emotions. Positive emotions bring you greater health, happiness and optimism toward life. Developing positive emotional control is similar to developing your confidence, it requires daily attention and regular conditioning. A healthy daily diet and taking great care of your physical body and mental input will have great influence on your emotions and attitudes. A healthy, energized body creates a more motivated state of mind. A simple smile on your face leads to happier thoughts and emotions. You must control your emotions and avoid letting them control you. By mastering your emotions, you begin to master yourself!