Discouragement is defined as, “a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness.” Many describe it as feeling defeated, or like they can’t do anything right. When you feel this way, it’s almost like your spirit is broken. You may feel the weight of disapproval from yourself or others, deterring you from going after your goals or embracing leadership opportunities. Feeling discouraged can be personally and professionally paralyzing. If you feel unable to act because you lack confidence in your abilities, you may be discouraged.

Temporary feelings of discouragement are common after a failure of any kind. You might question your talents or capabilities for a short time after missing out on a promotion, or when your boss expresses disappointment in your creative work. Or maybe you have a bad day as a parent or spouse, leaving you feeling defeated. But when you constantly feel like a failure, it could be a sign that discouragement is trapped inside you, manifesting itself on a daily basis.

Overcoming Discouragement

Often, the first and most vital step in eliminating discouragement is identifying it. Through muscle testing, The Emotion Code™ can help you identify and release any trapped discouragement, even if you don’t feel it right now. However, being able to recognize your own emotional state, we believe, is important to allowing your mind and body to process those feelings before that energy becomes trapped. Here are a few helpful strategies.

Positive Affirmations

Negative self-talk is common, and we propose it may create negative energy. Continually talking down to yourself can result in feeling discouraged. So when you realize you’re talking to yourself that way (or when you hear others doing it), fight back with a positive inner dialogue. We believe this dialogue can make a huge difference in the way you feel and the energy in your body.

Firm Boundaries

We often tolerate negativity and criticism because we fear offending people or looking like we can’t deal with feedback. But when we do that, we’re giving the opinions and energy of others priority over our own wellbeing. Keep in mind that what you allow will often be perpetuated. Try to set firm boundaries to help you keep the good energy around you, while keeping out the lower or discouraging vibrations of others.

More Celebration

We often celebrate our big successes, but tend to ignore the small ones. Nonsense! Celebrate the little steps forward or daily progress you make. Did you keep your temper in check with your toddler today? Pat yourself on the back. Did you get the floor mopped and the weeds pulled, even though you had a busy day? Recognize yourself for that. The more you celebrate your small successes, the more positivity you bring into your life and the less likely discouragement will take hold for long.

Release those trapped feelings of discouragement, and then take the positive steps you need to avoid it in the future. And if you want to know more about how emotions are defined, how they may become trapped, and how you can release them, pick up your own copy of  The Emotion Code™ and see what changes you could make!