Encouraging and equipping women over 60 to live their best life!
We are currently looking at personal development ideas. Today’s topic is emotional mastery or emotional intelligence—which is capacity to be aware of one’s emotions, manage them effectively, motivate oneself, empathize with others, and handle relationships skillfully.
Many of us don’t like change. We become accustomed to that which is familiar, and when different happens, we fight it rather than accepting. In the last six months, I’ve discovered different is okay, even good, at times. Positives exist in new and different, but we often must look for those positives. Sometimes it’s easier to adopt a negative attitude and drop into a pattern of feeling sorry for ourselves. Even in difficult life seasons, good is present.
Winning habits create a winning life. The idea here is to look at our current habits. We choose the actions that we choose; that have worked for us. Give yourself the space to ask if there is a new and better habit, a winning habit, that could actually improve that area of your life?
Whether we want to acknowledge it, or not, we are all living out our stories. We all have a set of expectations for ourselves. We see ourselves a certain way and we make decisions that match that. Some of us have never really thought about this, but it’s true. These expectations have come from past experiences, our upbringing and our culture. If you don’t believe me, do this experiment, next time you’re with a group of friends listen to the conversations. When you hear: “I’m a ….” Listen to the answer. Here’s a few ideas of what you might hear: I’m a mom, I’m a runner, I’m a hack at tennis, I’m retired and getting old, I’m an author and I’m working on my next book, I’m just getting by, life sucks, I’m a person that started a non-profit, I am just existing, I’m an empty nester, I have no energy and I’m lost, I’m a realtor, I’m just going through the motions, I can’t wait ‘til Friday. Now think about yourself, we may not say it out loud, but we have some of these same thoughts in our head. We all have stories we live in.
Ask yourself these questions when you start looking at new fashion trends and colors for an upcoming season. And as we replenish our summer wardrobes (or whatever season at the time you’re reading this), we’re wise to review these questions.
Doing this series and creating this tool has given me incredible clarity moving forward in life. I want this for you! Having a personal, moral compass; a standard by which to make decisions offers great discernment on the “who, what, where, when and how” decisions in our life. We all make decisions on where we will put our time, attention and effort. Now, you can ask yourself: “Does it align with my personal life blueprint; my mission statement?”
Our exploration across various domains—sports, business, Christian faith, and personal relationships—reveals the consistent threads of faith, trust, and resilience that undergird effective leadership and strong connections. From the teamwork and discipline in sports to the strategic vision and adaptability in business, from the servant leadership and guidance in Christian faith to the communication skills and empathy in personal relationships, these principles form the cornerstone of success and meaningful interactions.
Don’t be ashamed if this happens to you. Instead, react and take authority over the situation. If you are too upset, call someone you trust to help you. What else can you do? Keep phone numbers handy for your local police department and the phone number for your bank. Scamming is rampant, real, and can ruin your life!
Applying cross-domain lessons can enhance our effectiveness. For example, business communication techniques can be applied to resolve conflicts in personal relationships. Christian examples of extraordinary teamwork can be used in sports, business, and family dynamics.
We desire authentic connections where we feel heard and valued through open communication. Trustworthiness and reliability from our friends, our intimate relationships, and our peers provides support during challenging times. Additionally, we seek relationships where our unique thoughts are respected, opinions honored, and differences embraced. Ultimately, we aim to foster intimate relationships and friendships grounded in understanding and unwavering loyalty, navigating life’s ups and downs together.
