FACT 1: Researchers accept the fact the we have an average of 2100-3000 thoughts per hour when we are awake.

That is a lot of opportunity for many emotions to make an appearance and affect how we see things and act on what we think we see. Some researchers refer to managing our emotions. If we partner with these emotions and take the time to explore what these emotions are telling us we can make better decisions leading to success. It took longer to type that last sentence than it takes us to examine our own emotions in real time to make better decisions.

How many different emotions came up for Tiger in the 4+ hours he played his final round at the 2019 Masters? Plenty! The 3 words from his caddie, Joe LaCava, show a valuable strategy for navigating our emotions. “Managing” infers that we have control over our emotions. Navigating lets us acknowledge and explore these emotions. Recognize that they appear for a reason and that can help us and the people around us.

FACT 2: Research from 6seconds.org shows the huge upside to examining emotions as they arise and understanding where they came from and why.

Can we shut out emotions and push through to the goal our brain has set for us? Sure! Be prepared for that neglected feeling to come up again later, bigger, and perhaps, with greater consequences. Dealing with emotions as they come up can make us more agile and effective. Think about the word “intense” for a moment. Consider the amount of pressure on Tiger during the tournament and all the things that might feed a feeling of intensity. It could be self-doubt, doubt from the press, anxiousness, doubt from competitors and thousands of other things. Having one bucket to put these emotions into as they arise can be a very successful strategy. Intensity can build from many emotions. That can lead to greater focus and amazing results. Justin Bariso  wrote about this in Inc.com and called it “recategorizing…feelings”. This is a great strategy that lets us deal with feelings without being overwhelmed by them.

The word “loose” could also be a powerful part of a winning strategy. “Loose” is another bucket or meta-emotion to remind us to be agile in our approach to challenges. That may look like performing at our best on all 72 holes in the Masters or even surviving a two hour business meeting and coming out with what we want. Staying loose can give us a strategy to recognize emotions, in real time, and stay focused on making the right decisions for what we want to accomplish.

We all have pressure on us from time to time. Pressure to perform. Pressure to be a good husband, daughter, manager, contributor or even pro golfer. The strategy of recategorizing or bucketing emotions and feelings can be a powerful way to acknowledge emotions that are there for a reason while allowing us to make the right decisions for success.