What to Do When Something Feels “Off”

You know that feeling when something is off? You don’t know what it is, nor do you notice it right away. Seemingly out of nowhere, you just go, “Wow, I’ve been feeling weird all day.”

This “off” feeling can slow down your productivity, cause you to make less-than-stellar decisions, and be reactive in your leadership. 

What you may not know is why this happens or what to do about it. So let me dive into it…

You see, things don’t just go “off” for no reason. There’s something happening inside you that’s making you feel out of place. That something is a certain emotion flying under the radar! Because the thing is, we’re conditioned to not pay attention to subtle emotions. We only notice those that grow strong enough to catch our focus. Just because those emotions aren’t strong, however, doesn’t mean they don’t have an impact on us. They have a tendency to keep boiling somewhere deep within us, creating that “off” feeling.

Here’s a pretty feminine example that showcases how this works (apologies in advance if you’re a guy reading this, especially if your lovely head is bald):

If you suddenly decided to get a mohawk, everyone would notice. But if you just got a little haircut, like a trim, chances are that it wouldn’t draw much attention. But you still need to get that haircut, or else you’ll get a bunch of split ends. And if you leave your hair unattended, it will get damaged. Well, your mind works the exact same way…

You should pay attention to subtle emotions as much as the big ones.

The next time you feel like something’s “off”, know that there’s a specific emotion turned on. Then, take some time to check in with yourself. Look inward and uncover that emotion trying to fly under the radar. You may not be able to pinpoint it every time, especially in the beginning. But the more you practice, the easier it will get. 

When you learn to trust those subtle emotions as much as the big ones, you’ll achieve lightness and clarity.