Expressing our emotions can be powerful motivators, especially during a Sunday sermon delivery. As UCC ministers, your sermons can drive us to pursue our passions, connect deeply with others, and motivate our faith toward doing the greater good.
However, when our emotions are running high in response to life circumstances, they can trigger a response that can impair our ability to think rationally. Stress and anxiety can contribute to hasty decisions especially where it concerns our finances.
Consider this scenario: Rev. Kate is on her way to work and she needs to drop off her children at school. She gets an early start because she has an important church council meeting. While on the road, the unexpected happens. Rev. Kate’s car breaks down. What are the flurry of thoughts that could run through Rev. Kate’s mind as she hurried out to work?
Answers 1 and 2 are negative responses that result in high stress, high emotions, and regret. These thoughts and emotions have set Rev. Kate off to the start of a bad day.
While answer 3 allows Rev. Kate to take a moment and breathe. She recognizes that life happens to us all, and while the timing of the situation is not ideal, she is not in control. And, therein lies the root of our life stresses and frustrations – we have no control when life happens.
According to a Psychology Today article, “Emotions are a primary driver of decisions, in that we tend to feel positive or negative about something immediately—it's only later that we try to develop reasons or arguments to support this feeling.”
Understanding how emotions impact our choices is crucial for making better decisions in both personal and ministry contexts. We all have options, even though they may not seem clear at the time.
We can mitigate the impact of emotions on financial decision-making by learning how to regulate the thoughts that trigger our emotional reactions. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul admonishes us to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” He stresses the importance of controlling one’s thoughts, which call for mental discipline. We can take authority over our mind, will, and emotions, and avoid letting those pesky negative thoughts to continue to dictate our feelings and actions in response to life circumstances.
Consider these steps for a healthier you:
Life is a balancing act and oftentimes we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control our outcomes—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. Staying aware of your emotions and employing practical strategies can help to regulate them, improving your decision-making processes and assisting you in achieving better outcomes in all areas of your life.
Get Help. If this sounds like you, get help in managing your emotions during stressful situations by contacting HealthAdvocateSM, and speaking with a Licensed Professional Counselor or Work/Life Specialist through their Member Assistance Program by calling 1.877.240.6863.
This is a no-cost benefit that gives you access to in-person visits, and unlimited, confidential phone consultations with specialists who can walk you through any of life’s temporary setbacks. If you are an active UCC minister participating in the UCC Non-Medicare Health Plan, you and your spouse, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law are covered under this program.