Action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can regulate the feeling, which is not.
—William James
…Let’s face a simple fact: most of us are controlled, to quite a large degree, by our feelings. The way we feel at any given time almost always has a visible impact on our actions at that time. When you think about it, this is a pretty lousy way to live. We willingly give control over much of our lives to the dictates of our emotional states. And we call ourselves free?
This quote by William James, one of the trailblazers of modern psychology, may sound elementary, but its impact can be profound. By fighting the inner demon of negative thought and dark emotions, by taking small positive actions despite the way we feel, we can literally wrest back control over our feelings. And what a wonderful victory that would be!
So, stay focused on your goals and objectives for your life, no matter your age or circumstances, and continue to move forward, inch by inch and step by step. When you do finally look up, you will be amazed at just how far you have moved. And, odds are you will feel pretty great as well!
MSH
