Mature actions

Friday, April 18

You can feel a certain way but still take the right action.

We know this, but we don’t act like it. Too often we let our feelings drive our actions. We feel offended and we shut down or we get defensive. We feel anxious and we don’t try. We feel afraid and we don’t speak up. And then we justify our actions (or inaction) because of the way we felt. Put more direct, we make excuses.

My 9-year-old has no barrier between how he feels and how he acts. It’s okay, he’s nine. But for us adults, we should expect and demand better of ourselves.

You can feel offended and respond calmly.
You can feel anxious and give great effort.
You can feel afraid and still share your idea.

This isn’t just what mental toughness looks like, it is what maturity looks like. Immature people are driven by feelings. Mature people choose their actions no matter how they feel.
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The good news is that it is up to you. Choose actions that align with your standard today, not your feelings.
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Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-Kevin