Feelings v. Actions

You know, it’s not your feelings that get you into trouble…it’s how you ACT on your feelings that can be problematic.

I heard my niece fussing this morning because she was jostled when being moved from her car seat to her crib at Mom’s house. She was indignant, you could just tell from her tone. She’s too young to have the words to express her feelings, so the crying does it. Later, when she straddles the pre-verbal and verbal, she’ll use the might of her lungs along with words. As the newly-minted princess that she is, she will probably be more than a little imperious in this level of expression.

She will learn that there is a way to convey your feelings that won’t get her in trouble…this I know…she may be the reigning Miss Sassy Pants at the moment, but she has a whole team of loving, kind, but also no-nonsense (well, not ALL no-nonsense) folks around her who will help her.

I am reflecting on this because I am struggling with remnants of the mood from earlier this week. I find myself tensing and taking up positions against things in my email, before even reading the email! It is not rational, it is not practical, it is not necessary. But today and this week I have come off of the auto-pilot mode of compliance and cooperation. Today and this week, I am at the stick of this flight, and I might just be deliberately flying this plane into turbulence. It will resolve itself, because it always does. I just have to remember that words are only part of the reaction. I have to watch my face, too. I might SAY all the diplomatic and correct things, but my FACE has a habit of telegraphing what I am actually thinking.

Who knew there was an up-side to wearing a mask.