How Are You Feeling?

Have you ever felt happy, sad, tired, excited, bored, frustrated, or even furious? Those emotions aren’t just fleeting experiences—they’re your body’s way of sending important messages. Each feeling can serve as a warning, a form of protection, or a call to action.

     Over the past twenty years as a coach and counselor, I’ve learned to treat emotions like dashboard lights. They don’t spell out every detail, but they clearly signal that something is happening beneath the surface.

     Emotions spring from physiological chemical responses. Some are obvious—pain when you smash your thumb, satisfaction when you savor a favorite dish. Others, like aggravation, frustration, irritation, and impatience, often arise from our thoughts—wanting something we don’t have, feeling entitled, or perceiving injustice. In contrast, contentment and calmness flow from acceptance of our limits and gratitude for our circumstances.

     The key is to use emotions as alerts and then investigate the thoughts and situations behind them. Emotional maturity means noticing how you feel, then objectively choosing your response by exploring what triggered that feeling. Great leaders hone this skill, reading emotional cues to help others uncover the roots of their emotions and guide positive change.