Understanding Negative Emotions

A Simple Reminder by Bryant McGill

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Bryant McGill: Author, Speaker and Activist

Bryant McGill is a best-selling author, speaker and activist in the fields of self-development, personal freedom and human rights. He is an iconic personality and cultural critic, whose prolific writings have reached millions of people and appeared in thousands of works by other authors, educators and social leaders. His writings on values have been featured at the prestigious Foundation for a Better Life, who has called McGill one of “the brightest minds in human history.” In an official Congressional commendation, the nation’s leaders applauded McGill’s, “highly commendable life’s work,” as an Ambassador of Goodwill. He is the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize nominated, Goodwill Treaty for World Peace. His writings and small aphorisms have been published in over 120 books and translated into 15 languages by publishers such as Simon and Schuster, Random House, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, McGraw Hill, For Dummies and Writer's Digest. His writings are used in the curriculum at the university level, have been implemented into a campus installation at Bangkok University, and have received positive reviews from professors at Columbia, Stanford and NYU.

Bryant is a sought after speaker who has delivered speeches with diverse groups, from the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and Chief of the LAPD, to the United Nations, with Dr. Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and the UN Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs. He has appeared nationally on network television, and his message is regularly heard on satellite and major market radio stations. Bryant was the front-page cover story of the WALL STREET JOURNAL relating to his expertise with social media, and protecting people from identity theft and cyber-bulling.

As a coaching and positive psychology thought-leader, McGill's writings have been endorsed by the former president of the American Psychological Association. His writings have appeared in publications such as Psychology Today, in peer-reviewed psychology journals, and in curriculum materials for mental health professionals. His works have been referenced and published by educational authorities such as the dean of NYU School of Medicine and Dartmouth University, and have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. McGill is on a quest to prove that life is still beautiful, and that all people have the power to have a better life and world — NOW.

To learn more about Bryant's work visit: BryantMcGill.com

Understanding Negative Emotions by Bryant McGill

Worrying is simply another form of meditation and manifestation. Worry is a sickness; an illness and affliction. Worrying is a misappropriation of a powerful mind, that should otherwise be spent focused on positive and beautiful acts of creation. While the feeling of worry can be a useful messenger to be listened to, excessive worry is a destructive bad habit. In all pursuits of self-betterment habituation is one of the most important concepts that needs to be understood. Many people who have a worried mind, only worry because they have habituated themselves and their minds to be instruments of worry. The human mind is like a blank computer, into which any software can be written and run. Over time, the human mind’s self-written programs will run automatically, and without thought or choice. When “bad things” happen in life, a person always has a choice how they choose to respond to that event. We cannot always control the things that happen to us in life, but one of the very few things we do have control of, is how we choose to respond to the situations and events that occur in our lives. When a person continually chooses to worry and engage in meditations of doubt, which is an act of faithlessness, over prolonged exposure to this choice, a person’s mind becomes deeply habituated to this debilitated way of thinking.

All of the great mastermind thinkers throughout history have known that we become our thoughts. It is important that when a situation moves into your life, which may cause you to worry, that you choose to exercise the discipline to not engage in the very destructive meditations of worry. Excessive worrying is a sign of an undisciplined mind. It is a form of weakness, recklessness and self-indulgence in negativity, and it is very dangerous. The human mind is the most powerful instrument on earth. The occupations of your mind should be your primary concern. There are better things your mind could be doing; much more constructive things, that a powerful instrument of creation, such as your mind could do with its time, rather than simply meditate on negativity.

In order to understand the nature of worry, it is important to understand the nature of human emotions. Sadly, most people do not understand their own emotions. Most people, when asked, say they believe that they are subject to their emotions, rather than their emotions being subject to them.

Human emotions are like weather patterns. For example let’s talk about suspicion, doubt, self-doubt, judgment, worrying, anger or any other destructive thinking patterns. First I would like to let you know that there is no such thing as perfection and it is okay for you to have negative thoughts. It is okay for you to have angry thoughts and it is just fine for you to even have judgmental thoughts. All human beings, have these thoughts come upon them throughout the course of their lives. For example, let’s say that you’re standing in the grocery line getting ready to check out. And let’s say that the person in front of you has a voice and demeanor, that grates upon your being. Without your choosing, suddenly like a storm cloud that appears in the sky, emotions of judgment or negativity may begin to form in your mind. This is normal, and it does not mean that you are a bad person. However, what happens next is the most crucial and important decision-making process and point of empowerment that will ever happen in your life. At the instant in which these emotions and thoughts begin to form in the mind, we each have a choice at that moment whether or not to give power to these thoughts. We have a choice to continue to entertain these thoughts and feelings, by giving them power, or to choose not to entertain the thoughts. There’s an old Indian story about a young boy who went to his tribal elder, and told him that he felt like there were two wolves engaged in a ferocious battle inside of him. He said that one wolf was good, and the other was bad, and that these two wolves constantly fought. He asked the elder, “which wolf will win”? The elder responded, “the wolf you feed the most will win the battle.” The thoughts that we feed by giving them our energy, time and attention will always win.

When the dark clouds of doubt, anger or worry begin to move upon you, steady yourself in the knowledge that in time, the storm will pass. Emotions are transient and temporary. But, the more one has engaged in a particular pattern of thought, the more difficult it becomes to override these habitual patterns, which is why it is very important for you to immediately begin using your power of choice, to feed the good wolf, or the higher-mind. Habit can be your worst enemy, or your best friend. Over time, one can habituate their mind to higher vibrational thought patterns. The mind can be habituated to feelings of compassion, gentleness, empathy, and even calmness and confidence in the face of uncertainty and tribulation. Your future begins with your next thought. Even now as you read this, the power is completely yours. The next second belongs to you, and no one can control how you choose to think at any time. No one can make you feel any certain way. Only you choose how you feel or how you react to the situations of life. This is a most empowering concept. Worrying is a state of mind for a victim. Worrying and power are polar opposites. Worrying is a state of helplessness, weakness, and victimization. Choice is the antidote to worry, because in that moment of worry, you can choose to respond to the situation with confidence, faith, surrender and humility. You can choose at that moment to commission your mind, which was previously subdued by the pathetic and debilitating thoughts of worry, and instead marshall your mind, which is the most powerful creative instrument on Earth, to do its great work for you, to serve you, to create for you— all of the solutions you need to be free from the situations you chose to worry over.

A calm mind at peace is the most effective tool. We do not have control over what happens to us in life, but we do have control over how we chose to respond to those situations, and that is so empowering and wonderful. When you are worried, it is at that moment you must choose to not worry at all, freeing your creative mind and spirit to solve your problems.

Share your thoughts in the comments below. How much worry is too much worry? Is worry a helpful messenger, or a destructive force in your life? What lessons, warnings or advice can you share with us from your own experiences? Please share.

Read More in Bryant's Book or Collection:

Like this Simple Reminder? Tweet Your Favorite!

Do you #WORRY too much? Read this to #relax and have #peace http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (43)

#Advice for weathering the dark clouds of #worry and #doubt. #READ NOW! http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (31)

All of the great mastermind thinkers throughout history have known that we become our thoughts. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (7)

There is no such thing as perfection and it is okay for you to have negative thoughts. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (16)

When the dark clouds of doubt, anger or worry begin to move upon you, steady yourself in the knowledge that in time, the storm will pass. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (3)

The more one has engaged in a particular pattern of thought, the more difficult it becomes to override these habitual patterns. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (13)

Your future begins with your next thought. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (60)

Worrying and power are polar opposites. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (63)

We do not have control over what happens to us in life, but we do have control over how we chose to respond. http://smpl.ws/Y (11)

Choose to not worry at all, freeing your creative mind and spirit to solve your problems. http://smpl.ws/Y by @BryantMcGill (13)


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