Are Emotions Either Positive Or Negative?

"My emotions are neither positive nor negative". That's the line from America's national anthem. The song goes on to state "I don't know if you like what I do, but I love what I do!" Although the above sentiments may appear to be a bit odd for those of us dealing with the difficulty of navigating our own emotional landscape, its actually a very valid sentiment. Emotions are not either positive or negative, they can exist in a state of harmony and balance just like the beautiful music that steams out from your speakers.


It's a shame when the media depicts negative emotions as a winning attitude or a mastermind plan to conquer the world. Negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, jealousy, rage are not qualities that inspire leadership, they are the downfall of an otherwise positive life. Those who harbor these negative emotions are more likely to give up and become a follower rather than an individual who is determined to make something of themselves. Our society is primarily concerned with the positives and what these emotions can do for us. These are the emotions that will get us through each day and help us deal with life's challenges.

But sometimes we choose to ignore the negatives in our lives and focus instead on the positives. The real problem is that when you live with a suppressed negative emotion, it becomes magnified and turned into a panic attack. Life with a constant state of happiness and harmony is so much easier to manage. The good news is that by learning how to manage your positive emotions, you can turn any negative experience into a wonderful adventure. Emotions are neither positive nor negative, they are simply feelings!

So next time you're faced with a challenging situation, ask yourself "How are my emotions?" and you will soon begin to see how easy it can be to navigate your way through your emotions. And before you know it, your emotions will be more like the "teeth grinding" variety and all the negative emotions you once hid will come flooding back to you!

You might even notice that you have more of an inclination to react negatively to new situations now than before. Don't let this fool you into thinking that you will be stuck in a rut. Positive emotions lead to positive outcomes. By learning to manage your emotions well, you will begin to see the opportunities in front of you. It doesn't matter if you are a small business owner, a stay-at-home mom, or a student - these are all opportunities waiting to be seized!

All it takes is a little knowledge of your emotions and a little practice. Once you understand the difference between being reactive and being proactive, you can start to hone in on the things that feel right for you. Reactive behaviors include: jumping to conclusions, complaining a lot, making accusations, blaming others, and becoming argumentative. Being proactive is: taking action, analyzing the results, analyzing your actions, and setting goals and making plans. Both are good, but in totally different areas!

Learning to manage your emotions well will free you up to live the life you really want. When you let go of controlling your emotions and concentrate on being in charge of your destiny, life will flow more naturally and with less stress. Being able to enjoy the good and not just the bad will give you a much more fulfilling experience. When you take a step back and look at your life, will you be more surprised at how much more you have to give? !


The good news is that you can learn how to manage your emotions so that they work for you instead of against you. Emotionally healthy people have learned how to manage their emotions so that they don't hinder their lives and happiness. Find out how this is done. You may find it helpful as you learn to manage your emotions in your own life. Remember, what you think of yourself is only you perception, your interpretation of events, good or bad!