5, 4, 3, 2, 1

So you want to de-escalate one of your bad habits that really is a crisis in your mind, & you know it is. With the results you've gotten lately, you know the consequences & you know it’s time for change. 

You are not alone. Everyone, & I mean everyone, has something they want to change. Change is hard. 

Just ask “SPUD.” The social world of SPUD has a soft couch. If SPUD isn’t on the soft couch, SPUD is comfy someplace similar. 

So how do the ones who stay the course make it happen?

Is there a better way to change your mind so you're not a couch potato? Must be some sort of chemical change going on. It must not take a whole lot of energy for them to get those results? 

At first it seems impossible. Less energy to get moving? That seems impossible. How do they get to being faster so they are not a spud? You know the mind barriers that are causing the results. But hey, wait; you want to be equally as powerful & not be a spud. 

It’s like you’re starving for something. You know it’s not food because the overweight thing has been going on. So it’s not about pushing harder for more of the same, then, is it? Have you convinced yourself to be so connected to your emotions that you are relating to them rather than just recognizing your emotions?

The ones who stay on a different course than that of being spuds neither fuse with nor dissociate from their emotions. You see, when you recognize your emotions for what they are, you can choose your most favorable way of decision-making as a leader. 

So now you are recognizing you are your boss. You tell yourself to recognize what the emotion is & where it belongs in your results-oriented decision-making. 

Ya, you have a pulse. 

You can see your desired results in your mind. You know it is so very much possible. You see it as tangible results. 

You have a prize to win. Your recognition of your emotions. Don’t allow yourself to be numb when emotions come to you. Stand guard, as emotions are coming your way. 

I don’t know about you, but I myself don’t want to be a spud. A couch potato is like walking about in the chains of gluttony. 

I’m writing this as I’ve fallen off the wagon of “Recognized Emotions” a few times. I need to stand guard of my emotions. Emotions are part of a spiritual power. Thomas Aquinas defined five types of gluttony: eating too soon, too expensively (sumptuously), too much (excessively), too eagerly (greedily), & too daintily (fastidiously). 

So as I look at this emotional issue, I’ve been doing the analysis of my decisions about my emotions. It seems I’ve had a lack of self-control. How about you? Does that happen, & do you want to get back on “The Wagon of Recognized Emotions”? 

I’ve not found it to be a matter of pushing myself harder. I feel the recognized emotion to lower barriers. I know they are simple barriers because I’ve lived with them as lower barriers before. I want to get on track. I want to get into spiritual rythem. “Recognizing Emotions." 

You most likely don’t want to be fighting with yourself about what you should do. Like waking up in the morning when the alarm goes off. Remember what it was like being happy to hit the floor running? I certainly do. & I miss it. Recognizing that I miss something takes the pressure off of the other emotions. Ya! That’s it: recognizing what one misses & bringing that thinking again & again. Yes, I miss those emotions. I’ve been working on putting a ban on those troublesome pests. 

How do we get those emotions recognized & moving in our thoughts? Well, you talk about the good emotions within. You don’t hang with spuds. That is unless they too no longer want to be spuds. You know there are friends who want not to be spuds. Ask yourself, are there any spuds you can approach to bring together even stronger spiritual emotions?

It’s time to get digging into your emotions. Get together with those emotions & influence yourself. Making your stronger, spiritually recognized emotions your social influence. 

What’s not worked for you? Do an analysis of you. Write up for yourself what drives you. What drives your tongue? Don’t be the unfortunate one who doesn’t remove those hindering blocks. 

When you are doing this, don’t forget about yourself. Obviously that is easier to do than what you have thought about. Learn how to change your mind. You need to convince yourself. That has got to be something you get really, really, really good at. 

I’ll tell you, there are warning systems that we’ve been given. Those are like recommendations for self. What are your warning systems? Talk to yourself about them. You don’t have to talk outloud. Although that’s alright if it works for you. When it comes to that, talking to myself out loud, I can be a natural at it sometimes. Laughing! 

Getting really, really, really good at reacting to the incoming negative emotions of "I'll have that" & seeing what you really desire the outcome to be is where it’s at. To not keep doing what you are already doing removes the negative emotions & strengthens the quality of your emotions. Don’t distance yourself from your desires of goodness & quality. Check your emotions. 

You make big changes by asking for less than what you have been. Asking for too much is what Spuds do. Yes, there’s that feeling of uncertainty, of feeling as though you’ve had enough. Simply count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, all the while checking & recognizing your emotions. Like I said, it’s a spiritual thing. So get stronger. Want to be stronger in your decision-making this year than you were last year & even stronger next year? Then practice being aware & acknowledging your emotions. Experience it! Don’t restrict yourself to the good-quality emotions for your decisions. 

If you need proof that it works, then get some by becoming aware. Endorse yourself. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

Get in the driver's seat of your emotions. Don’t allow the wrong restrictions in your emotions. In other words, don’t allow the restriction, thinking you can eat anything & be a spud. That’s too unpleasant. It’s not that you have to tell yourself not to. It’s quite the opposite. It happens; you have to speak up within first, & then it develops.

I suggest not trying to do this as perfection. Be ordinary & then be extraordinary. Not perfect. It’s pretty cool to be the executive of your own thinking. 

Say you decide you want some help & that you’d rather do this with others who are focused on the same decision-making you are. Well, there’s Alcoholics Anonymous. You know the AA. The other 12-step group is for Overeaters Anonymous (OA) & Food Addicts Anonymous. These programs have been around for more than 50 years. 

It’s nice to chart your own path, being an active participant rather than a passive bystander. Emotions are a spiritual thing. So when are you going to talk to God about all of this? Ultimately God is in control. 

We do bring dimensions into our lives. & that includes art.

If you like this, please do say so & do subscribe. & if it is something you feel is for someone who will appreciate it, please do share. 

Suzy Theme 

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¹ Aquinas, T. Summa Theologica. 2-2.148.4. (Describing the five ways of committing gluttony).

² The "5-4-3-2-1" countdown is a proprietary technique from The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins (2017), Aquinas, T. Summa Theologica. 2-2.148.4. (Describing the five ways of committing gluttony).