Do You Do These 8 Things?
Emotional stability is a direct contributor to happiness and living the good life. Without it, you risk falling into a pattern of jealousy, stress, heartache, and depression.
Luckily, anyone can make a choice to improve their emotional health. You can change the way you think and alter your daily habits to make yourself more emotionally successful and enhance your quality of life.
What does it mean to be emotionally stable? It means to choose actions and thoughts that contribute directly to a sense of calmness and serenity. It means to develop habits that bring harmony into your life and your interactions with everything and everyone.
How do you become more emotionally stable? Well, for starters, you could try adopting some of these habits that typify emotionally stable people.
1. They Say NO
Emotionally stable people know when and how to say no. They do not over-commit themselves or make false promises. They just say no to requests that they don’t want to do or don’t have time for.
While unstable people don’t know how to say no, and often get taken advantage of, confident people understand that they don’t have time for everything.
They only have twenty-four hours in a day, so they want to spend those hours wisely – doing the things that matter most to them.
2. And They Don’t Feel Bad About It
These calm, yet assertive people don’t feel bad about saying no either, and they don’t even need to explain why they are saying no. After all, “No” is a complete sentence.
Saying “no” takes confidence. We all want to please people, make our bosses and friends happy, and do as much as we possibly can for others.
But when we take on too much, we do a poor job, overextend ourselves, and become unhappy. We stretch ourselves too thin, and we lose our self-esteem and emotional stability because of it.
If you are struggling emotionally because you have too much on your plate and you are feeling overwhelmed, try telling someone “no” today.
Don’t worry that you might burn bridges. People will understand. You don’t have to be rude or mean when you turn someone down. Just tell the person requesting your help that you cannot fit it into your schedule.
Feels good, doesn’t it?
3. They Embrace Their Flaws
Who ever said emotionally stable people were perfect? Certainly not themselves. They know that they are imperfect, and they embrace it.
If they were perfect, they would be done growing and developing. They never want to stop growing. There is so much to learn in the world, and they want to soak up as much knowledge as they can.
There is no need to be perfect, and an emotionally stable person won’t even try. They will gladly tell you all about their imperfections and admit their flaws openly. They love themselves for who they are… and for who they are not!
Strength and happiness come from within, so learning to accept yourself for who you are is critical for emotional stability.
Always try to look for the positive in every situation. Even if you mess up, there is always a lesson to be learned or an area to improve.
4. They Know the Power of Listening
Emotionally stable people listen more than they talk. They are self-assured in what they have to say and, therefore, do not feel the need to talk all of the time. They are great communicators because of their ability to listen.
What’s more, such people know how to take critical feedback. You won’t find them sulking after getting advice from a coworker on their presentation. They want to know your opinion, even if they don’t agree with it.
5. They are Selective with Their Inner Circle
Attitudes are contagious, and emotionally stable people know that the company they keep will influence their outlook on life.
Negativity can severely affect your emotional health. Because stable individuals do not want others to push negative energy their way, they are selective with those they choose to associate with.
They do not expose themselves to toxic people who may break down their defenses or lower their morale.
Negative people are everywhere, and they are more than willing to take you down with them. Guard your inner circle and only associate with people who build you up.
If you have someone in your life who is negatively influencing you, it may be time to break that tie. Some bridges need burning.
6. They Refuse to Conform
Emotionally stable people don’t buy into something they don’t believe in. You won’t find them jumping on the bandwagon of every new trend. They simply do not care if they “fit in” with the crowd. They are comfortable in their own skin.
They aren’t afraid to disagree with their family, friends, coworkers, or the entire world. Peer pressure is just not in their vocabulary.
The more secure you are on an emotional level, the more independent you become. You will no longer feel the need to fit in, because you know that you already do.
The next time you feel pressured to do something that doesn’t fit within your values or ethics, ask yourself what emotion is tied to that need to fit in. Recognizing your emotional fragility is the first step to overcoming it.
7. They Ask for Help
Emotionally stable people do not feel threatened if they need help. Why would they? The most successful people in the world have entire teams supporting them and helping them succeed.
Such a person knows they can’t do it all alone, and they aren’t going to waste their time trying. They trust people and aren’t afraid to ask for (or hire) help.
Asking for help does not mean that you are a failure. We all need help from time to time. If you are struggling in a certain area of your life, ask yourself who may be able to assist you and then ask for help!
8. They Support Others
Emotionally stable people love to cheer on others. They love helping their peers succeed. You will not find one that goes behind anyone’s back or takes credit for someone else’s work.
They will applaud you when you do well… and really mean it! These people are your cheerleaders, and they want you to succeed. They are smart enough to realize that by being associated with other successful people, they will also succeed.
If you constantly find yourself feeling the pangs of jealousy or secretly wishing others would fail so that you can succeed, you are giving in to your emotional weakness.
Emotions are amazing motivators, and they can take control of our minds and bodies. Instead of focusing on other people and what they are doing with their lives, focus on yourself.
Finally…
Improving your emotional health will help you get more out of life. When you start implementing habits that support emotional stability, your anxiety will decrease, your productivity will increase, and you will feel more fulfilled in your life.
Changing your emotions is a skill that takes practice. You can improve your emotional stability, but you have to be dedicated to making a positive change in your life. Implement the habits listed above and get in touch with the strong person you were meant to be.