Emotional Well-centeredness.
Our emotional well-being, in my opinion and experience, is dependent upon our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social well-centeredness. I consider it a keystone dimension. When we are on track with the other dimensions, we are on more sound ground emotionally. When we are Emotionally well-centered, the other dimensions grow. These are all inter-dependent.
Gratitude is essential to Emotional well-centeredness. I often refer to an attitude of gratitude or grattitude (gratitude + attitude). I heard recently a discussion about a link between gratitude and depression. I have also learned about the importance of shifting my mindset from ‘have’ to ‘get’ from my friend, Andy Lausier (head wrestling coach at Davidson College; ‘The Grateful Athlete’1). In other words, rather than “I have to___” one shifts the attitude to one of “I get to___”. This mindset has also led me to look at every event as an opportunity.
The Emotionally well-centered grattitude begins to view circumstances differently—more positively. An otherwise overwhelming circumstance becomes an opportunity for growth.
Emotional well-centeredness is never easy. It is the least stable of the dimension—and, hence, depends on the stability of the other dimensions and the effort we put into them.
A daily growth plan—including journaling, meditation, reflection, etc.—as well as an other-centered focus, regular physical and intellectual exercise, and strong social support, is essential to one’s Emotional well-being. Negativity, isolation, and time spent is non-productive (i.e., non-growth) activities are destructive to the Emotional wellness, and, consequently, negatively affects one’s overall well-centeredness.
I can easily struggle with maintaining my Emotional well-centeredness. A few minutes into my commute my morning growth efforts can be negated. Emotional well-centeredness require constant effort. It requires frequent “productive pause” (Jim Harshaw, Jr., “Success Through Failure”) to adjust the grattitude. If I am not well-centered across the dimensions, it will immediately present itself through my emotions. I am prone to negativity and anger—if I lose focus on others and on my physical and intellectual practice.
Grattitude requires little effort. However, it also takes very little to upset the balance. It requires a “why not me?” approach to the challenges that befall us. It takes calling challenges “opportunities”. It takes surrounding ourselves with supportive friends, maintaining our physical health, keeping the mind actively focused (providing positive input), and, above all, being other-centered.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://www.thegratefulathlete.com