Emotional Mastery

You lost your temper.

You were up worrying half the night.

You couldn’t get past what happened last week.

Whatever the case, we’ve all been there: lost and under the control of feelings we’d rather not have. Logically, you know we’re in the wrong place. But how do you take back control from the emotions which are holding you hostage?

It might help to consider each of these emotions as though they are a person. Think Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, except those particular companions were a lot cuter and way more fun than this bunch. These guys are a little more like that clique at your high school. You know the one. The kids who caused mayhem every time they showed up. Let’s take a minute to get to know their names.

• Anger
• Fear
• Shame
• Anxiety
• Apathy
• Despair
• Guilt

Whew, tough crowd. But don’t be intimidated! First of all, all emotions serve a purpose, as you’ll find in the next chapter. Even these. It’s when they get out of control when they become trouble, which is what we’ll address in the rest of this book. In each chapter, we’re going to focus first on the emotion itself and what purpose this particular emotion typically serves. It’s at the end of each chapter, though, where you will earn how to break the grip of each emotion in three easy steps.

So, no more prisons. Emotional Mastery is around the corner. Let’s dive in!