Don't Forget to Celebrate (11.5)

"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas." Henry Ford

Sorrow, fear, anger and guilt are painful emotions. Each of them "asks" you to take appropriate action (see here and here). With each emotion, you incur in an "emotional debt."

If you don't pay that debt you go bankrupt. As you dam your flow of feelings you sink into negative moods such as resignation, resentment and depression. These moods are frozen and pervasive emotional states that take a life of their own. You are sad about something, but you are just depressed. While you can address sadness through grieving, depression just lingers, like a heavy fog.

Joy, enthusiasm, gratitude and pride are pleasurable emotions. Each of them also "asks" you to take appropriate action. If you don't pay these emotional debts you run the risk of shunning these emotions from your life.

You honor joy by celebrating.

You honor enthusiasm by striving.

You honor gratitude by thanking.

You honor pride by recognizing.

In the following video, I discuss how each one of these emotionally intelligent actions is necessary to lead effectively.

Should you have any trouble viewing the video, please click here to view on Fred's slideshare page.

Readers: Is there any guilt that you need to heal through corrective actions? Is there any shame you need to dissolve through self-awareness?

Fred Kofman is Vice President at Linkedin. This post is part 11.5 of Linkedin's Conscious Business Program. To find the introduction and full structure of this program visit Conscious Business Academy. To stay connected and get updates please and join our Conscious Business Friends group. Follow Fred Kofman on LinkedIn here.