Guidelines For Expressing Feelings

Recognizing and then expressing feelings is key to a balanced life.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Expressing feelings begins with an “I statement” --keeping the focus on me.
2. Formula: “I feel ____ (adjective follows: happy, sad, embarrassed, elated, etc.) about...”
3. Feelings are neither right nor wrong, good nor bad, they just are.
4. Saying, “I feel THAT...,” is probably not expressing a feeling.
5. If I can substitute “I think” for “I feel,” then I am expressing a thought.

Expressing our feelings allows us to share our needs without needing to judge another. We can help others understand our unique perceptions and requirements.

Around the Holiday Table

Here's an experiment. Listen for (as Peter Drucker reminds us) "what isn't being said."

Could make the holidays much more interesting....