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Tip #2 Herd those feelings in the right direction
Picture a sheepdog herding a flock away from danger. It isn’t always easy, but there is mighty power in the simple act of changing direction. If a sheepdog doesn’t take control and herd the sheep in a different direction, they could easily get lost, injured, or killed. Likewise, you can (as one woman put it) “boss your feelings around” and decide which direction you want them to go.
You might find yourself feeling frustrated that your husband wants to watch the game with some friends on the weekend. Now, you would have every right to think (and say!) that you might enjoy a little time away from home too! But during the moment that you’re annoyed, you can turn those thoughts toward how hard your husband has been working overtime on a big project, and how burned out he has been. As you focus your thoughts, you can even herd those feelings into a place where you actually feel happy he has an opportunity to unwind! And once you are in that better place, you’ll be far more able to address with your husband, at the right time and with the right attitude, how glad you are he had fun, and would he mind being with the kids for a few hours one evening so you could meet Sarah for coffee?
Once you make a conscious effort to think on the good and reject the bad, you will find that you feel more positive about yourself, your spouse, and your circumstances.
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