Last updated on November 1st, 2019 at 04:06 pm
I wrote a story for personal blog A Week In The Life Of A Redhead, and I can tell I haven’t been writing much these past three months. I tweak 8WomenDream and nag content contributors when it is their time to post a big dream story. But did I actually do anything related to becoming a motivational writer and speaker?
Yes, I did. Don’t faint.
I’ve been thinking about what gets in the way of going after our big dreams for many women. What is often both our greatest asset and our most significant detriment: emotions. Misdirected negative emotions can take you to unintended places and stop you from working on creating your dream life.
Strong emotions guided in the right direction, towards the right idea, can catapult you to great success. Strong emotions pointed in the wrong direction can decimate everything in your dream path, causing you to wake up one day and ask: How in the hell did I get here?
Before I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease and ultimately succumbed to Hypothyroidism I went through a long period of thinking I was going slowly crazy, My hair fell out, I was always cold, I was wired-tired, and my mind raced a thousand thoughts a second–not all of them good.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to recognize my emotions were not innately who I really am. This knowledge propelled me to push my doctors for an answer. The answer was that I was sick.
The right thyroid medication cleared up many of my symptoms and quieted the negative, racing thoughts. There is a saying among thyroid patients called “Thyroid Thinking.” It’s the name we give the thoughts we know are the low functioning thyroid talking–not who we are.
Knowing this about my thyroid (and my feelings) gave me the ability to change my thoughts. Knowledge is power. Now, I’m not just a crazy redhead anymore. I’m a crazy redhead with an excuse. But seriously, I know what to do when negative thoughts appear and how to shake them.
What could happen if you steered your emotions (even if negative) in a direction that creates a positive outcome? What if your emotions are attempting to tell you valuable information about the state of your health and whether or not you are moving your life in the right direction? If emotions are your fuel to take action, then that fuel can be used to fly.
It’s what you do with the fuel, or your emotions, that make your life healthy, or not.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.”
What if you began to realize it?
Catherine Hughes
Catherine Hughes is the founder, content director and editor-at-large of 8WomenDream. She is passionate about helping women step out of their own way and strike out into a world waiting for their special talents. She’s a published author and a former award-winning mom blogger. Catherine has helped companies both large and small create engaging web content, social media narratives, and unique blogging platforms. She claims to be a redhead, but don’t hold that against her.
Note: Articles by Catherine may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.
