Emotions Are Data Not Directives
Have you ever felt excited and a little sad?
Anxious and totally elated?
Grateful and overwhelmed?
That’s not confusion.
That’s self-awareness.
One of the best parts of my job is that no two months look the same. I’m constantly in motion—new places, new people, new energy. It keeps things fresh and fulfilling. But it also stirs up a lot of emotions.
If I had it my way, I’d speak at 2–3 events a month, stay in a rhythm, and soak it all in. But that’s not how this business works. Some months I have 8 events. Others? 30 days off.
And let me tell you what happens after that downtime: The swirl.
When it’s time to get back on the road, I feel joy, purpose, and momentum—but also hesitation, nerves, and a little sadness about leaving home.
In the past, I thought those mixed emotions meant something was wrong. But now I know better: Self-awareness is the ability to tune into your own thoughts, feelings, and patterns—and to recognize that all emotions are valid, not just the “good vibes.”
I dive into this exact topic on last week’s Be Who You Came to Be podcast episode.
And here’s the big lesson I share: Your emotions are data, not directives.
Like after I had my second baby. I went back to my corporate job and felt the same swirl: overwhelmed, unsure, disconnected. My husband reminded me that I’d felt that after baby #1—and eventually, I found my groove. But this time was different. The feelings didn’t go away. Twelve weeks in, I knew: I needed change. That moment changed everything.
Self-awareness isn’t just about knowing what you feel. It’s about having the courage to listen.
This Week’s Tip
Try these 3 EQ tools to strengthen your self-awareness:
Name it to tame it – Are you overwhelmed, or just overstimulated? Nervous, or excited? Naming your emotions helps regulate them.
Stop editing your emotions – Don’t sanitize your feelings to make others comfortable. The people who matter can hold space for the real you.
Use your emotions as data – When the same emotion shows up over and over, it’s not random. Ask what it’s trying to teach you.
The goal isn’t to feel great all the time. It’s to feel honestly, learn from it, and grow through it. That’s emotional intelligence. That’s how you be who you came to be.
