Financial Planner for Gen X Families | Brian Plain, CFP® | Chicago, IL

View Original

Embrace the Space Between

As a parent, you've seen a child's ability to go from happy to hysterics in a matter of seconds.

And while we think of ourselves as rational adults, we're human. We tend to react quickly based on how we are feeling in heat of the moment. Our reaction might make us feel better in that moment but it doesn't help reduce our stress & anxiety going forward.

Whether we're talking about a child or ourselves, when we react immediately based on how we're feeling, it's easy to miss it.

The space that exists between how we feel & how we choose to react.

If you're like me, you're not the type of person who ever wants to be mad or pissed off. You prefer to be mindful & present especially when it comes to your kids. Unfortunately, it's hard to do so when we're not conscience of how we're feeling in the moment and how quickly we're reacting based on that feeling.

So how do we become more conscience?

1) Accept that you can't control how you feel.

2) Remember that you DO control how you choose to react.

The secret to is to build space between how are you are feeling & when we choose to react.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. ” Viktor Frankl

You can see how this approach is effective when it comes to your finances too.

Worrying about money is natural but rather than trying to change how you feel, focus on the actions you can take. That's the part you control.

Life doesn't have to be a rollercoaster of emotions. Start adding space between how you're feeling and how you decide to react. The better you get at it, the more enjoyable life becomes.