I have a friend who often gets herself into various situations that are troublesome to her. When I ask her how she feels when she is giving her attention to the particular situation, she gives me one of a number of possible negative feelings. When I ask her how she wants to feel, she always answers with the same feeling: "free."
I work with clients who get themselves into a variety of situations that evoke negative feelings. When I ask them how they feel, they answer with the name of one of many possible not-good feelings. When I ask how they want to feel, they usually give an answer that is what you might think of as the exact opposite of the not-good feeling; and if not exactly the opposite, close to it.
To illustrate this: if the not-good feeling is "confused," the good feeling is likely to be "clear"; if the not-good feeling is "sad," the good feeling is usually "happy"; if the not-good feeling is "trapped," the good feeling is usually "free"; if the not-good feeling is "stressful," the good feeling is likely to be "peaceful" or "relaxed" or "calm." And on and on, so that the feeling chosen to identify the positive opposite is close to the meaning of the opposite of the not-wanted feeling.
When I am guiding a client to find the positive opposite of a feeling, I am certainly not looking for a dictionary-approved antonym. The chosen word matters very little; what matters is how it feels. My intention with this empowering practice, first and foremost, is to help the client to recognize the not-good feeling and be accepting of it. This is the starting place. The next part of the practice is to help the client to identify a place to move from the not-wanted feeling to the wanted feeling. I'm a guide in this process, so I am not trying to direct a person to a place of my choosing. I ask for an articulation of the wanted feeling so that we both know where the person desires to move, which allows me to provide greater assistance.
Similar to the friend I mentioned above, I am one who chooses the same wanted good feeling to essentially every not-good feeling I feel. My positive opposite is "happy." Sometimes I answer a different feeling, but the feeling I most want to feel is happy. This is a happiness that comes from inside me, which has little to do with anything external. After much practice with this positive opposite process, I can usually move from any not-good feeling to happiness in a matter of seconds. Not always, but usually.
What is a not-good feeling that you often encounter, and what, for you, is its positive opposite? As you view certain situations in your life, can you feel when your feelings change?
Feeling the Positive Opposite - To learn more about this author, visit Jeanie Marshall's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 Feeling the Positive Opposite
|
| |
Do you ever feel a feeling you do not like to feel? This empowering practice encourages you to identify a not-good feeling and then identify its positive opposite. The positive opposite feeling is a place to move wh...
|
|
Chill Out guide to positive thinking
|
| |
Just think, everything you have ever achieved, started with just a little thought, it may take days, weeks or even years to turn into reality, consistantly planting that seed in your mind everyday starts the proces...
|
|
Utilizing The Law of Attraction
|
| |
 The law of attraction states that you will attract into your life--whether wanted or unwanted--whatever you give your energy, focus, and attention to.
|
|
Talking To Yourself
|
| |
Our minds are never still. They're always chattering away behind the scenes, commenting on the passing parade: 'Nice car', 'That s.o.b.'s trying to cut in', 'I wonder what she meant by that?', 'Now, what am...
|
|
HalfFULL
|
| |
When a whole lot of things are not going your way, it can be quite difficult to find a bit of optimism, seemingly impossible, in fact. But hold on, do you remember the old "is the glass half-empty, or half-full" ada...
|
|
|
Jeanie Marshall
(Visit Jeanie's Website)
Jeanie has an M. S. in Human Resource
Development concentrating in Organization
Development. She consults by phone in the
areas of personal empowerment and
organization development. As an
Empowerment Consultant and Coach, Jeanie
helps people to find the power within
themselves. She uses traditional resources
and innovative approaches to help her
clients move from where they are to where
they want to be.
One of her greatest gifts as a consultant
and coach is to hold the vision of her
clients' true desires until they're able
to step into the vision. Her consultation
sessions are playful, inspiring, and
transformative. She says, "the most joyous
part of my professional life is working
one-on-one with clients, which is a
partnership of co-creative, empowering
ideas."
She's the author of multiple books, blogs,
web sites, and CD albums. She has been
actively involved in the human potential
movement and organizational development
for more than twenty years. She is a
mentor, coach, facilitator, organizational
development consultant, personal
development consultant, and a writer.
|
|
 |
|
|
Jeanie Marshall's
Complete
List Of
Human-Resources
Articles
|
|
|
If you enjoyed this article, get Jeanie Marshall's Complete List of Human-Resources Articles For FREE!
|
| |
|
|
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
