Emotions are powerful and greatly impact how we connect with ourselves, God, and those around us. I’ve found that when we don’t take charge of our emotions, they can so lead us off track, cloud our thinking, and even challenge our faith. That’s why I’ve put together this guide! It’s meant to help us find a way through our feelings, place truth above emotions, and discover how to harmoniously bring together our emotional and spiritual selves.
1. Prioritize Your Passions
Passions, desires, and feelings are natural, but they should never replace the truth of God’s word in your life. This includes career passions and side hustles we pick up in an earnest effort to advance our financial goals. When emotions and desires take precedence over God’s Word and guidance, you risk losing your spiritual clarity. Instead, keep God at the center of your life, allowing His truth to help you manage your feelings.
2. Embrace How Feelings Lead to Connection
Feelings are not naturally bad. In fact, they can deepen your relationship with God which in turn enhances your relationships with others. Feelings like joy, gratitude, or awe, can be expressions of your spiritual maturity. Yet, be cautious not to let momentary feelings decide how or when you pray, meditate, read, or worship. Start by anchoring your relationship with God in faith, truth, and consistency, and watch how your relationships with yourself and others change.
3. Look For Your Blindspots
Our emotions often reveal areas where we need to grow that we otherwise do not see. For example, anger about what a family member said could suggest that you should work to identify your triggers and reinforce your boundaries. Sadness after a loss could indicate a need for active gratitude for all you still have. Everyone has blind spots, and sometimes, our emotions provide a direct line of sight if we take the time to honestly reflect on why we feel what we feel when we feel it.
4. Observe How Your Beliefs Define You
A genuine conviction, grounded in truth, can inspire meaningful action. While temporary feelings may come and go, convictions are steadfast beliefs that support our lasting transformations. Life constantly bombards us with choices, tempting us to act against our convictions. So, I find it valuable to reflect on a foundational question before making a choice, even if it seems inconsequential. I ask myself, “Is this decision based on how I feel right now or my commitment to my spiritual identity?” When you prioritize your relationship with the Creator, the decisions you make will reflect abundance. This helps manifest prosperity instead of exaggerating unstable feelings.
5. Learn the Difference Between Emotions and Truth
Let’s be clear: Feelings can often be misleading. While emotions change based on how life decides to life, truth is factual, unchanging, and reliable. Truth is found in the principle of God’s Word. But if emotions strongly influence your moods, please couple scripture with other self-care habits to regain clarity during internal emotional conflicts.
7. Beware of Emotional Manipulation
The opposition (Satan and his human agents for this entry) uses feelings and emotions to pull us away from God’s promises. Fear, doubt, anger, and pride can distort our thinking and weaken our faith. Feelings linked to the anxiety of impostor syndrome or romantic insecurities sow confusion and taint our judgment. Complacency can paralyze you. It makes you think that you have achieved all you will in life. In truth, you are afraid to step into the next level of God’s grand design. Always allow your feelings to inform you. Don’t let them deter you from pursuing your true path. Fulfill your destined purpose.
8. Don’t Let Your Bag Become Your Bondage
We talk about “being in our bags,” not the money bag, but the emotional bag. However, without the intention of processing the emotion, that bag can become a fortified obstacle. Without a plan to understand ourselves deeper, staying trapped in negative emotions can keep you from moving forward spiritually. For instance, nervousness can leave you afraid to make the moves God is calling you to. In discontent, we begin to take our blessings for granted. In these moments, we must pause, reflect, and place the truth back at the center of our lives.
9. Engage Your Self-Awareness
One of the most powerful tools for emotional health is self-awareness. To grow into the best version of ourselves, we should observe our feelings and figure out why we’re feeling them. We should also be honest and accept how our emotional triggers influence our behavior. Knowing our emotional triggers is an essential step towards mastering our feelings. Once you identify these triggers, you can address the ones that no longer serve you more effectively and healthily.
10. Check the Fruit of People, Places, and Things
Before establishing a permanent connection with a person, place, or purpose, evaluate the fruit it produces. That means observe it explicitly. Ask yourself if it leads you closer to God and His design for your life. Does it take you further away from your dream? Does it bring peace or anxiety? Does it encourage positive emotional health or stir up negativity? Protect your emotional energy by being discerning about where you spend it.
Emotions are indispensable in shaping our human experience. Managing them requires the standard of Godly truth. This short guide is helping me on my journey to emotional intelligence. We can master our feelings by discerning the difference between feelings and truth. Combining spiritual practices with self-care helps. When we seek to become the best version of ourselves, we avoid emotional bondage.
Until next time.
