El Dorado - The Golden City of Emotion

I've had this one scene from a movie playing through my mind all day. It comes from 'The Road to El Dorado'. The scene is where the two main characters are talking and the one looks at the other and says "You know that little voice that tells you to stop while you're ahead? You don't have one."

We all have that little voice in our minds. Sometimes it's so quiet that we don't hear it. I'm not talking about the negativity voice that I've referenced in other articles. This is more the warning voice, that little voice that tells you to stop yelling at your children, to not say what's going through your mind to your spouse, to generally not let you temper get the better of you.

Think for a moment about someone who yelled at you. Generally it doesn't matter what they're saying or if their even right, the more they yell the more you become entrenched in your own defense. It doesn't matter if you might even agree with them, most people will shut down or yell back. Neither option helps the situation in any way.

Let's go back to El Dorado for a moment. For those not familiar with what El Dorado is, it was a mythical city made entirely of gold. Even the poorest man built his home of gold.

Each of us has the ability to do that. I'm not talking literally, but the emotions that swell within us affect our actions. You can choose to yell and bring blackness to the world, or spread joy to everyone, painting everything gold.

Happiness is a choice, just as anger is a choice. The things within our lives have created triggers that automatically make us feel angry or happy. We associate these feelings with memories and because of those memories we act a certain way. Changing your emotions only takes a few steps.

1. You have to RECOGNIZE the trigger - When you feel angry and upset stop and remove yourself from the situation. Take a look at what made you feel that way. Once you Recognize what is going on within your own thoughts and emotions and what those triggers are you can start to change.

2. Choose to feel something else - This can be as simple as thinking of a favorite song (as long as it brings happy emotions) or fixing a happy memory within your mind.

3. Practice - Like everything mastery of this skill takes practice. Michael Jordan didn't become a star the first time he picked up a ball.

Like the citizens of El Dorado you can live your life surrounded by gold - golden memories, golden feelings, golden moments. The decision is up to you.

Life isn't easy. But as you improve yourself things will fall into place. For the tips and steps you need to set you on the right path go to http://www.topselfhelpsecrets.com/

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The Golden Rule Shines Even in Traffic

Perhaps we have heard a variation on it, but this principle is a thread in every religion, spiritual teaching and current civilization.

Being alone in my car may make it easier for me to act and think on the selfish side since I am alone with few to observe my less than "golden" actions or words -maybe that's one reason this is the easiest place to forget. Few of us would act the same way in line at the grocery..

Do I REALLY want someone in a car nearby shouting ugly things at me, tailgating while waving their arms in disgust, or cutting me off with a "what's wrong with you, stupid" look as they go by? I really don't. In fact, when it happens TO me, my feelings are hurt and I am left feeling horrible for a while. Is that really what I am trying to do to the other person or am I just exploding with selfishness for the moment without thought to how it will affect the other person---Just do what I want!

SO when I start out to do these things, it sure does help if I remember to remind myself of this wonderful suggestion; that the thoughts and actions I practice will make my day and part of who I am for the days that follow.....AND that I am not the only important person on the planet..or even this stretch of road. Who knows what the next person is walking through or driving toward today?

I can leave my home at the exact same time and with the exact same amount of traffic on the road and have completely different feelings and reactions along the way. This reminds me that it is not the traffic, the construction, the way my husband, kids or cats behaved before I left home or even other people on the road that are of prime importance, but the condition of my spirit leading my emotions. Feelings come from the inside and not from outward circumstances.

Another gem that you have probably heard "It's not what happens to you, it's what you do with it". Another principle shared with me is "It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us". Because this is a principle and not a guideline, it is not for me to edit to "sometimes" or "depending on the cause". Read literally, it also doesn't say that I am always at fault for things that happen or that others are ----simply that if I am disturbed by something ---the problem is in me.

How do I prepare for conditions I may know I am "driving" into or countermand my reaction to unpleasant circumstances as they occur?

In my car, it's as easy to dial back as it is to let my self-centered agenda get the best of me. For me, music really does soothe the savage beast! I use my mp3 player to help me "pause when agitated.." and have a mellow tunes playlist always ready to calm and even to redirect me to my source of emotional stability.

In daily life, my regular tools are my morning quiet time, my daily power nap and quick inventory at lunch, positive prayer and affirmations filed away over years of repetitive use, along with favorite feel good movies and books that point me on the road to (and many times back to) smiling gratitude.

I invite you to visit my website at http://www.courage2change.info/ to view additional articles and tons of resources for the sharing. Share your own experience by leaving a comment. While I love the process of sharing my own, gaining additional perspective and listening to others is one of the main goals of my writing.

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