Tip: Your devotion determines your emotions!
One of the most difficult aspects of life is to understand is emotions. When I was in high school, my good friend, David Gentry, used to tell me that we could not control our emotions or how we felt about things. Although there is a lot of truth to that when we are growing up, there comes a point at which we must begin to exercise control over our emotions. After all, we cannot simply allow our feelings to determine whether or not we will be hard working, committed adults. If we lean on our emotions, it will not be long before our life begins to fall apart.
A while back, I was in a pizza restaurant. While the girl in front of me was waiting for her pizza to come out of the oven, a song that she evidently knew began to play through the loudspeaker. She immediately got a big grin on her face and said to her friend, “Oh, boy! That is my favorite song. Now I’m going to have a good day!” I could not help but think to myself, “Wow, I am glad that my day is not determined by what song I hear on the radio!” Don’t get me wrong, there are some songs that I enjoy hearing too, but I do not let them control whether or not I am going to have a successful day. That is because my devotion to my faith, family and business are far ahead of my emotions.
Sometimes there needs to be a transfer of our devotion. If we are devoted to the wrong things, our emotions will tag along behind like a dog on a leash. However, if we are devoted to the right things, our emotions will naturally follow as well. I am sure that you have heard the famous quote, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” This is simply another way of saying that whatever we set our devotion upon will ultimately be the factor that determines our emotion.
Don’t get the cart before the horse. The horse should always be in front of the cart. That is the way it was designed to work. If the horse is your treasure (or devotion), then your heart will be the cart (emotions) following along behind it. If we get it backwards and put the cart in front of the horse, we will experience one frustrating situation after another. Emotions are not designed to lead us. They are designed to follow. However, if we get these two in proper order, we will have a better chance of staying balanced in order to succeed in all that we do.
I have found that when I give my full attention and devotion to my family, my business and my faith, my life is much stronger and healthier emotionally. However, that does not happen by accident. It requires some thought and personal determination.
This week, let me encourage you to look carefully at the circumstances currently taking place in your life. Then select one issue upon which you can choose to focus. Ask yourself which is first, your devotion to that issue or your emotions concerning it. Perhaps, if you get those two things straight and in proper order, you will be a much happier person.
It is very easy to let our emotions control us and lead us off in the wrong direction. Find out where your devotion and personal commitment are today and watch your emotions, in time, fall into line.
Tip: Your devotion determines your emotions!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
