365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 94: On Overidentifying With Your Emotions

People overidentify with their emotions. “I was really mad; I couldn’t

help it.”

—Mark Manson

 

89

“I was tired, so I didn’t do my workout.” But were you really so tired

that you couldn’t at least try, or did you feel slightly tired and consider it a

great excuse to skip exercise altogether?

“I  was  angry,  so  I  shouted  at  her.”  But  does  feeling anger  mean  that

you have to vent it, or did shouting at your spouse simply feel better than

trying to resist the urge to do so?

“I felt so joyous, I had to buy it to celebrate.” There’s nothing wrong in

celebration, but if every joyous occasion leads to unnecessary purchases to

treat yourself, isn’t your joy really acting as an apparently legitimate excuse

for not saving money?

Take  notice  of  whenever  you  overidentify  with  your  emotions.  How

often do you use them as excuses for failing to exert self-control? Letting

your fleeting feelings control your actions is a sure-fire way to jeopardize

your resolve to become a self-disciplined person.

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