Check Engine Light
Most of us see feelings like anxiety, sadness or anger as an area of contention or discomfort, granted they give us some not so fun physical sensations! What if we looked at undesired emotions or experiences as a check engine light?
You know, the light that comes on in your car when everything isn’t running right? I mean, most of the time the light comes on and it’s not a huge deal. Maybe it needs an oil change or one of your belts is running a little ragged. You can most likely run your car for a while before you need to do anything about it, but typically, the sooner you take care of what’s going on under the hood, the better your car is going to run long-term. AND there’s always the option of continuing to mindlessly drive around and not check anything, totally disregarding what’s happening under the hood…but, eventually, it’s going to lead to some much bigger problems! Plus, just like un-desired emotions can be annoying so can that light, right?
So, what if the next time you feel anger arising…palms sweaty, body tense, fists clenched-you paused for a moment and took a look under the hood to figure out what is making you feel that way. Many times, it’s something quite simple that could be addressed with a loved one or a co-worker; it could save you from emotional discomfort that built up over time could cause your head gasket to blow. Usually, when we address our discomfort or (insert issue here), the “problem” at hand will usually disappear, just like the check engine light turns off when we change the fuse. Think of yourself like a mechanic for your own emotions. This will allow you to look at your feelings and emotions with a bit more objectivity and help with the resolution to your perceived “problem.” Something to think about…