Conquer Your Emotions

(3 Minute Positivity Workbook)

List five things friends or family do or say that trigger negative emotions:

(BTW this is not a complete list. Because friends and family both read this blog)

1. Underestimate me. When they doubt I could ever get a job or move out or get married.

2. Doubt me because I can’t drive (I would make the perfect DD because I don’t drink….but I don’t drive either)

3. Ask my brother and his girlfriend about their travels

4. Pursue a conventional education. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for them I just get jealous

5. Ask what I do for work. It’s a legitimate question, just hard to answer.

List five ways you can view their actions differently and thus better  handle your challenging emotions the next time.

1. I think people don’t necessarily underestimate me. They just don’t want me to get my hopes up for something I might not be able to achieve. We all took for granted  I’d finish college. See how that turned out. 

2. Most people think I don’t drive out of choice- because I’m too lazy or because I’m afraid (that last one is partially true). But the whole story is that I’m heavily medicated. I am expressly forbidden because of my vision and tremors and some other side effects.

3. I like to hear about my brother’s travels. I just wish I could match them with my own.

4. I shouldn’t get jealous of my cousins. It’s just some of them have a future free of mistakes. My cousin went to my university for a year and he didn’t like it and I just wanted him to know how lucky he is.

5. I’m just going to tell people I’m a writer when they ask. It’s true- I’ve been published in magazines, newspapers and anthologies. And self published six of my own books.