Page 20 - Patrice's Club Summaries

You associate certain feelings with certain behaviors without realizing that your thinking is what is causing both your feelings and behaviors. If your thinking is wrong (Stinky), then your emotions will not be appropriate or too intense (Not OK) and your behavior will be bad (Thumbs Down).
Today, you are going to learn to use your emotions as your personal signal light. Imagine you are in the car and you come to a Signal Light.
When the light is RED, what should you do? ... STOP!
If you don't stop, what will happen? Something bad; possibly a wreck or a ticket.
If the light is YELLOW, what should you do? Slow down or speed up. You evaluate which will be best for you: to go or stop.
If the light is GREEN, what should you do? Go through the intersection. You are in the right and should stick with your decision.
Think of your emotions as a SIGNAL LIGHT letting you know if your thinking (Self-Talk) is Stinky or Good. You need to learn to use your emotions as a signal so that you learn to act appropriately and be happier and more successful.
Your signal is a ... When you feel:
RED LIGHT...VERY ANGRY, SAD, EMBARRASSED You should STOP and don't do anything!
What am I thinking right now and does it really make sense? What are different ways of thinking about this situation? What will happen if I do something different than my usual?
YELLOW LIGHT... LITTLE UPSET, SAD, CONCERNED You should SLOW DOWN, and evaluate.
What am I thinking right now and does it really make sense? If it does, go with it. If not, what are some alternatives?
GREEN LIGHT...FEELING GOOD, CONFIDENT, RELAXED You should GO AHEAD, with your decision
Your thinking should be truthful and make sense.
If it does, then follow through with what you want to do.
Don't let others talk you into changing direction (your decision).
Too often you let yourself be at the "Red Light”. You do not try and get to
the "Yellow" or "Green" and you have Thumbs Down (you get in trouble) behavior.