Views:4906 | By: Lenah Have you ever felt like your own emotions were working against you? Maybe you were excited about a new opportunity, but then fear crept in and convinced you that you weren’t ready. Or you had a great idea, but self-doubt whispered, Who do you think you are? Before you could even take the first step.
We’ve all been there. Emotions are a natural part of being human, but when they take control, they can lead to self-sabotage. The good news? You don’t have to be at their mercy. Here’s how to take charge of your emotions.

1. Name It to Tame It

Ever felt stuck in a bad mood but didn’t know why? That’s because unrecognized emotions have a sneaky way of running the show. The first step to managing them is simply recognizing what you’re feeling.
Next time you’re overwhelmed, pause and ask yourself:
What am I feeling right now?
What triggered this emotion?
Is it based on facts or just my fears talking?
By naming your emotions (I feel anxious because I’m stepping into the unknown), you take back some control. It’s like shining a flashlight into a dark room.

2. Hit the Pause Button

Emotions demand action—fast. When you’re angry, you want to lash out. When you’re afraid, you want to run. But acting on impulse rarely leads to good decisions.
Instead, try this: When you feel an intense emotion bubbling up, take a moment. Breathe in deeply, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly. Go for a short walk, listen to calming music, or drink a glass of water.
This small pause gives you time to respond wisely instead of reacting recklessly. It’s the difference between sending an angry text you’ll regret or choosing to address the issue calmly.


3. Stop Believing Everything You Think

Not every thought you have is true. Read that again.
Your mind will sometimes lie to you, especially when you’re afraid or insecure. It might say:
You’ll never succeed.
You’re not good enough.


But here’s the trick—just because you think something doesn’t make it real. When negative thoughts creep in, challenge them:
Would I say this to a friend?
Is there another way to look at this?

More often than not, you’ll realize that the fears holding you back aren’t as powerful as they seem.

4. Toughen Up Your Mindset

Life will knock you down—it’s a guarantee. What matters is how you get back up.
Resilient people aren’t immune to failure; they just refuse to let it define them. Instead of thinking, I failed, so I must be a failure, they say, That didn’t work, so what can I learn from it?
You build resilience by:
Seeing setbacks as lessons, not proof you’re not good enough.
Practicing gratitude (even when things aren’t perfect).

The goal isn’t to avoid failure—it’s to bounce back stronger.

Final Thoughts
Your emotions are a part of you, but they don’t have to control you. By recognizing them, pausing before reacting, challenging negative thoughts, building resilience,you can stop self-sabotage in its tracks.
Always remember you are in control.