Emotional Guidance Scale

Everyone is born with the desire to feel good

Think about a time when you just felt good, and how right it felt!

Now think of a time when you were in a place of frustration, anger, or fear.

Most likely when you're feeling negative emotions you have a sense of something being wrong.

These uncomfortable feelings are guidance. They are not an indicator of your worthiness or a judgment about yourself, they are guidance. All of them, even emotions you might label as bad and ugly.


Thanks to your ability to feel hot and cold, extreme temperatures can guide you to safety and pleasure.

Uncomfortable temperatures can guide you to take action to get away from danger as well as steer you into a more comfortable place.

It can feel delightful to come in out of the cold to a toasty warm home. 

Our ability to smell stinky and divine smells can steer us away from eating bad foods, and guide us to smell a flower.


Why you should take the time to choose softer lighter perspectives and thoughts 


Benefits of Feeling Good

  • Enjoyment of life and the now moments
  • Gives You Restful Sleep, energy & vitality
  • Brings relief to pain and gives you more comfort
  • Is an ideal optimum state for healing & health
  • Improves your relationship with yourself and others
  • It is the state you connect with God/Source/Universe and receive 

    Most likely when you're feeling negative emotions you have a sense of something is wrong

     

    Those feelings of "This feels right and just how I want to feel"  versus, "It feels like something is wrong" are your emotions guiding you to follow your wisdom, guiding you to safety, and guiding you back up to better feelings, like appreciation, playfulness, and joy.

    With practice, you can use your emotions as guidance to not only keep yourself safe as needed but to raise your set point for more emotional comfort and happiness. The result, your life will work better.

Sharon’s version of the Emotional Guidance Scale

The original material this is based on is from Abraham Hick's Emotional Guidance Scale. This version was created by Sharon Svenson and Kathy Vaughn.

Since the connotations of words vary this list is not definitive but it can be used as a useful tool to help you feel better.

 

  • Joy/Knowing/Connectness/Engaged/Unconditional Love/Euphoria
  • Passion, playfulness, inspired, free, empowered, happiness
  • Enthusiasm/Eagerness/
  • Optimistic/Positive Expectations
  • Hopeful
  • Content/Gratitude/Appreciation
  • Boredom
  • Frustration/Irritation/Impatience/Pessimistic, Overwhelm, feeling stuck
  • Doubtful, hesitant, confused, disappointed, sad
  • Worry, Fretful
  • Blame, Regret
  • Discouragement
  • Anger, Rage, Fear
  • Hopelessness, depression, apathy, numbness

Start from the premise, you want to feel good and follow the joy


Notice where you’re at on the scale.

Be like a curious scientist, gathering useful information. Don't use the information of where you fall on the emotional guidance scale as a reason to condemn or negatively judge yourself.

Knowing where you're at on the emotional guidance scale can be helpful information to use as a tool to keep you safe and guide you to a happier life.

Just like your ability to know when you're hungry or full, hot or cold, awake or tired, thirsty or satiated, your emotions are there to give you information and guide you to comfort and well-being.
 
Let it be “OK” wherever you are on the emotional guidance scale. It is just guidance.

And if you can let it be a beautiful thing. Emotions, all of them, are God/Sources gift to you. 

Uncomfortable feelings don't necessarily mean anything is wrong or that there is imminent danger. Though sometimes there is danger, like getting too close to something that can burn you.

And it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with you, ever! 

You're supposed to have emotions, all of them. It is your tool to guide you to more comfort and happiness, as well as keep you safe.!

When you don't have a negative emotional attachment to having negative emotions, then you will be able to show up for your negative emotions in a constructive and positive way.

Like recognizing when your fears are alerting you to imminent danger and your need to act quickly on your wisdom.

For instance, fear can guide you to get out of the way of a heavy fast-moving object coming toward you.

Fear can guide you to more comfortable thoughts that bring soothing and relief, so you can dismiss irrational fears, like a monster under the bed.

When you judge yourself as wrong when you have uncomfortable feelings, like fear and anxiety, instead of using them as guidance and gift they become a tool that can add shame, guilt, and not good enough feelings.

Not feeling at peace about where you're at mentally, will lead you to more negative feelings, and result in things like procrastination, inability to act when needed, confusion, tiredness, poor sleep, bad habits, addictions, and dis-ease. 

 

Example of Working up The Emotional Guidance Scale


Let’s say I feel worried because I just got a call from the school and was told
my child was bullied and was now in the nurse’s office waiting for me to pick him up.

I identify my feelings: worried and scared for my child. I acknowledge the worried and
scared feelings, but in a supportive and loving way.  “That’s ok that you’re worried.
It’s natural to feel worried and scared when you feel the well-being of your child
is threatened.”

Then I remind myself I want to move up the scale to a better feeling place, where I can
be a loving supportive presence for my child.

I play around with different thoughts, to see what gives me soothing, relief or comfort.

Possible examples of looking for thoughts that make me feel better.

“I’m thankful for the woman who called, and let me know. I appreciate there our people
at the school that care and are looking out for the kids. I’m thankful they called me right
away and let me know what was going on. I do know there are good people there. I
really like my son’s teacher. This was just one incident, and I know he has had a lot
of positive interactions with friends both at school and at home.


How do I know which thoughts are working?

The ones that make you feel better.