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"Emotions don't have brains." I heard Patsy Clairmont utter these words and I was stopped in my tracks.

I was listening to Patsy being interviewed by Andy Andrews and David Loy on the In the Loop podcast. I love it when someone can say something so profound with just a few words.

I can relate most of the communication mistakes I have made over the years to reacting too quickly from emotion.

Emotions are not a bad thing. They are very much an important part of us being human. Emotions are part of who we are.

The problem arises when our emotions control us.

"Emotions don't have brains. God has given us a will that is stronger that our emotions." ~ Patsy Clairmont

Have you ever made a phone call or sent an email in frustration or anger and immediately regretted it? Or, confronted someone before you had all of the facts? I have more times than I would like to admit.

These types of knee-jerk reactions can be detrimental to your long-term relationships in your personal and business life.

Here's a few ways you can avoid letting your emotions control you:

1. Know yourself. The better we understand our own personality and how we react in certain situations, the quicker we can gain control.
2. Slow down and take a rational approach. In most cases, I will call someone I trust, replay the scenario and get their advice. This new perspective is vital for me to think clearly and consider my options. Also, it helps to pray about it and take a long walk.
3. Look for a positive solution. Our emotions can lead us to imagine the worst outcome in a situation. Worry will only ruin your day and we shouldn't worry about things we cannot control.
4. Make a conscious choice. Be intentional about how you choose to handle the situation instead of being driven by your feelings. Take the time needed to think it through.

Patsy was agoraphobic and now she speaks to thousands of women in large auditoriums across the country with Women of Faith. She is a testament to the fact that we can express our emotions and use them to make our life richer, but we do not have to be controlled by them.

Have a great week!