How I Manage My Emotions

I have lost count on how many times I have been asked, "Marcellus, how are you doing with this whole virus situation?" I'm not joking when I say that many seem disappointed when I say, "I'm great. How about you?" And I'm being honest. It is not that I am desensitized to what is happening around us. Quite the contrary. I just know living in a constant state of high stress, anxiety and worry will only lead to unhealthy choices and an unhealthy mind.

At Unapologetic, we firmly believe that if you don't manage your emotions they will manage you. Consequently, I follow these simple rules: 1) I don't let others' opinions define mine as I do my own research and prepare myself, 2) I will remove myself when I feel I am in an unhealthy situation and I don't ask permission to do it and 3) If I'm feeling stressed, I get to the source of it quickly and deal with it.

Since the pandemic started, I have watched every Presidential Coronavirus Task Force news briefing. No, I don't watch them because I want a date with anti-depressants. I watch them because I have learned that if I can discern information directly from the source myself then I'm less reliant on others' interpretations. I have to do my own research, mitigating the potential of fear mongering in my mind. I love information, but what I have learned is that if I source the information myself then I'm in greater control of how I will feel about it. 

I can now use this information to decide my feelings, enabling me to manage my own emotions. When I feel myself taking in too much information or when numerous people are in my ear, I will immediately distance myself from both. I can never place the responsibility of someone else managing my emotional health. I would argue when you own that responsibility you subconsciously take actions to take care of you.

I also don't ignore my feelings. When anxious, I take the time to understand the source of my feelings. I'm rarely stressed because I am very self-aware of how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking in any given situation. This enables me to control my reactions thus allowing me to manage my emotions. 

What about you, how do you handle your emotions in a healthy way?