Whether running or life in general, I have noticed a pattern. Feelings can interfere with our decisions.
Feelings can disrupt us.
Feelings often provide the much desired excuse to stop moving forward.
Recently I have just been observing how often I hear myself or others verbalizing how feelings have the veto power over our decisions.
Here is what I found: we say these things all the time.
“I am not sure if I will feel like running later.”
“I will let you know how I feel before I decide.”
“I don’t know if I feel up to doing 6 miles today.”
“Let’s see how we feel before we say yes.”
Who gave feelings this power over us? Who said feelings are ahead of everyone else in the line of importance? I understand that feelings are part of the mix, but when did feelings take the chair at the end of the table? The corner office? When did feelings start running the show?
After noticing this pattern during a recent conversation, I couldn’t help but bring it up.
“I heard you say multiple times that this decision is dependent on how you feel. What is preventing you from making the decision now?”
“Multiple times? Really?”
“Yup.” (I know, I know, great follow-up.)
“Well, I guess it is really fear. Fear of not being able to do it. Fear of not being successful after I put myself out there.”
Fear.
One of the most disruptive of feelings. Fear seems to be elbowing its way to the front of the feelings line.
There is a little secret to put feelings in their place.
Decisions.
Decisions to go for that run ahead of time.
Decisions to take on the project.
Decisions to take a risk.
Decisions to push yourself.
I heard a great quote about feelings:
“Feel what you feel. But do not trust them as objective reality.”
When feelings start elbowing their way to the front of the line, try making a few decisions to put them back where they belong.
P.S. Our little running team made the decision to run the other day when it was below 20 degrees and dropping almost a degree every 15 minutes.
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Carl Weber Consulting 