I'd like you to take a moment and consider the state you're in right now.
A state is a condition of being, a combination of the most dominant emotions and physical circumstances. For example, does your body feel calm, tired, tense, energetic? What are you thinking about? Your job, family, money, the past, or the future? What about your emotions? Are you anxious, happy, guilty, moody, loving or angry?
We are constantly in a flux among various states. Most of us are not self-aware enough yet to notice these states and what they're doing to us, but if you want to increase your efficiency and happiness, you need to identify which states spur you on and which ones hold you back.
You could call these states either resourceful or obstructive. Resourceful states like feeling happy, driven, loving or creative push you to seize opportunities for greater joy and success. Obstructive states like fear, anger, resentment, worry or guilt discourage us from improving our lives and fuel distress.
Needless to say, if we all truly noticed the states we go through, none of us would want to be in obstructive states. But most people do not take stock of the states they go through. They've been numbed by the routine of life.
So what you need to do first is to identify the different states you experience and what triggers each of them. Which states motivate and empower you? Which ones wear you out? Learn to avoid or neutralize the triggers that actuate the undesirable states. Let's try a simple example - if you find that coffee helps you stay alert during the day but keeps you awake at night, try replacing it with something that doesn't disrupt your sleep. That "pick-me-up" during the day is not good enough a reason to be sacrificing sleep. It's an artificial fix anyway; with proper sleep, there's no reason why you should not be alert during the day.
Other examples could be that you feel most energetic and creative after a run. Or perhaps you feel guilty when you're reminded of certain unresolved issues with someone in your past. Maybe you feel tired when you get home because your room looks dreary and needs a fresh coat of paint and more uplifting d?r.
You'll find that many of these little irritants and triggers of bad moods can be easily removed or neutralized, and in their place, resourceful states can be induced.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
