Embrace the Emotions That Drive Your Life

If you watch TV at all, you've probably seen the promo or ad for the new movie Inside Out 2. I had never heard of it before, but apparently, the original came out in 2015. So, this past weekend, I finally got a chance to watch it. It’s technically a kids’ movie, but the premise is something that I found really, really fascinating. Essentially, the movie is about all the different emotions inside a young girl. Characters like Joy, Sadness, Anger, and a few others play a part in shaping her thoughts, decisions, and outlook on life. What struck me was how the movie illustrated these emotions working together.

We never really think about the role our emotions play in our lives, right? Everyone has emotions, even those who seem stoic on the outside. What intrigued me most was the way the characters would take control of the “control panel” based on the situations the girl faced. This led me to a question that’s worth pondering: Who’s in control of your emotions?

Identify the Leader Emotion in Your Life

When you reflect on your own emotions, which one do you think is in the driver’s seat? Is it Joy? Gratitude? Optimism? Or, on the other hand, could it be Anger, Jealousy, or Envy? Think about it. If we let negative emotions dominate our thoughts, it can steer our life in a direction that’s not ideal. I asked myself this very question recently: What’s leading me right now?

Looking back on different stages of my life, I saw how letting certain negative emotions like anger or envy take control caused detrimental effects. However, in periods where I made the conscious choice to be led by joy, optimism, and hope, the results were dramatically different. It’s not magic—choosing optimism won’t make all your problems vanish. But when you make that decision, you start to see the world in a new light. And a new perspective is often all we need to unlock new opportunities.

Reframe Your Perspective

Here’s a simple truth: You will always find what you’re looking for. If you’re searching for things to go wrong, that’s all you’ll see. But when you train your mind to look for positivity, it changes the game. Let me share an example: there’s a famous psychology study called the Yellow Car Phenomenon. It goes like this—if I ask you to pay attention to how many yellow cars you see today, suddenly, you’ll notice tons of them. It’s not that more yellow cars magically appeared; it’s just that you trained your mind to look for them.

The same principle applies to life. You’ve got to be careful about which emotions you allow to drive you because they determine the direction your life takes. If you let negative emotions take the wheel, they put you in the passenger seat of your own life.

Make Room for All Emotions

One of the major concepts in Inside Out is how the character Joy tried to keep Sadness from touching the memories. She didn’t want Sadness to alter them, but what she discovered was that there is a time and place for all emotions. There is a time for sadness, a time for anger, and a time for joy. When the characters embraced their roles and worked together, it made the girl more complete and balanced.

In the same way, our lives aren’t just about constant happiness. True fulfillment comes from embracing all emotions, the ups and the downs. The key is not letting the negative emotions become the dominant force. Feel what you need to feel, but don’t let them steer your life.

Action Steps for Embracing a Balanced Emotional State

1. Identify Your Dominant Emotion
   Take some time to reflect on which emotion seems to be in control of your life right now. Is it serving you well? Is it helping you see opportunities, or is it clouding your vision?

2. Play the Positive What-If Game
   Shift your perspective by asking “What if things go right?” instead of dwelling on negative what-ifs. For instance, ask yourself, “What if I nail this presentation?” or “What if this opportunity works out?”

3. Acknowledge and Validate All Emotions
   Don’t suppress the way you feel. If you’re sad, allow yourself to feel that sadness. If you’re angry, acknowledge it. But also remember that these emotions are not meant to lead your life—they’re meant to balance it.

4. Celebrate Your Balance
   Understand that life isn’t just about being happy all the time. It’s about experiencing the full spectrum of emotions and knowing that each one plays a part in your journey. The more you embrace this, the more balanced and fulfilled you’ll feel.

Count Your Blessings, Not Your Burdens

Finally, it’s crucial to count the good things in your life. Too often, we focus on the negative and allow it to overshadow the positives. But here’s a reminder: no matter what, there’s always something to be grateful for. Take a moment to acknowledge the good things and let them take center stage. When you give positivity that kind of power, you’ll start to notice how small the negatives really are in comparison.

If you want to take your team, event, or conference to the next level, book me to speak at baylorbarbee.com/pages/book-baylor. For more mindset motivation, check out my 10-minute-a-day podcast, Shark Theory, at baylorbarbee.com/pages/podcast. Mindset Matters: Let’s make yours unstoppable.