The Feelings Formula

Hey y'all!

I wanted to circle back to something I shared in my last post, I Call It Peace. As I reread it, I realize that the distinction I made between mood and emotions could be unfamiliar or untrue to some. This post will be breaking down my thought process in hopes that you could better understand and maybe use the Feelings Formula too!

It's important to note that feelings aren't just emotions but are also a mixture of what causes feelings, how they show up on the inside, and how we act as a result.

Feelings = Triggers + Emotions + Mood + Behaviors

• Triggers are what cause the emotions

• Emotions are internal reactions

• Mood is the energy you carry externally

• Behavior is your actions

• Feelings are the result

Once I figured this out, it was hard to let things I couldn't control disrupt my peace. Even if it was something in my control, I learned to be transparent with myself about what I did wrong and what I could've done better. Knowing that God already forgave me, forgiving myself was one of the most important parts of those types of situations, aside from honesty.

Writing Prompt:

Track your next noticeable mood shift. When you feel different, pause and think whether you were calm, irritated, energized, or off. Use the Feelings Formula to break it down in real time: What triggered it? What emotion came up? What mood followed? What behavior showed up?