Our behavior and actions aren’t a reflection of who we are; rather, they’re a reflection of why we are. Accept that you will make mistakes, take responsibility for them and try to find their root cause.

Give yourself credit—and also some slack. Check in with yourself daily to assess your emotional state and redirect any negative thoughts. There are several practices you can implement to help you start off on the right foot each day.

Emotional Check-In

I allow myself to feel.

Don’t hide from your feelings. When our feelings overwhelm us, our instinct is to overwhelm our senses so that we feel a sense of numbness. But we’re not numb. We’ve overwhelmed our circuits, tripped the circuit breaker and our safety mechanism—so we’ve emotionally “shut down.”

Instead of overwhelming your senses with distractions or unhealthy coping mechanisms, allow yourself to feel. Let your emotions wash over you in a wave. Remind yourself that this feeling will not last. Breathe through the feeling and it will fade.

I give myself time.

Be sure to take time for yourself. Set aside time, on the regular, for a solo activity that helps you clear your mind, self reflect, and calm your inner being. “Me” time isn’t selfish: it’s necessary! Your body is not a machine—though even machines need maintenance. 😉

If you’re asking what you should do during your time, look no further than Pinterest! Seriously, though, do something that makes you smile, helps you reconnect your mental and physical state, or creates a sense of calmness. For some people, that’s a physical activity like a brisk walk or yoga. For others, it’s reading a book or meditating. Do something that you like–after all, this time is for you!

I know that I am loved. 

It’s easy to think about the people you love. When you do so, you’re likely to recall memories of them or the loving relationships you have with them. As you think of them and feel love for them, consider how they think of and love you. Look at yourself from their perspective. Understand the value of your relationship, from both sides of it. Think of what you must mean to them and how much they love you.

I practice thought management:
Think of your mind as a mailbox that receives a constant bombardment of messages. Most of it is junk mail, which can be divided into two categories: harmless or potentially harmful.

The former consists of every day thoughts that are random or unrelated to our task at hand, and they can easily be pushed aside and paid no attention. The latter may be more intrusive, contain confusing or conflicting messages, or make us feel negatively about ourselves or situation. We cannot control what comes into our mailbox, but we can manage the flow and create a system to cope with it.

Organization is key to creating any system. Our brain’s memory provides a quick categorization of memories, thoughts and feelings into long-term or short-term conditions. All junk mail is short-term. The messages we receive here are fleeting and any emotions we feel as a result are temporary. Allow yourself to let go of these messages.

Don Joseph Goeway, the author of Mystic Cool: A proven approach to transcend stress, achieve optimal brain function, and maximize your creative intelligence offers a creative solution that relates to this premise. He calls it the ‘Clear Button.’ Essentially, it works by distracting our primitive brain, which is where fear resides.

Pressing the Clear Button

Imagine a button exists in the center of your left palm. This button, when pressed, sends a signal to your brain to stop your fearful thinking. Now:

1. Become aware of your breath and press the button with your right hand.
2. Count out three slow breaths, and imagine that each number is a different color.
3. As you exhale, relax in the present moment.

Read more about Goeway’s Clear Button here.