termined. Some people graciously accept compliments; others de-
flect them with embarrassment. Some people love taking risks; oth-
ers are very conservative.
Lacking conscious direction, feelings are energy in raw form.
Work is the expenditure of energy in a purposeful way. We have all
read about “how to” work more effectively: Set priorities, plan your
work, and work your plan, be persistent, and the like. But to be
truly useful, any discussion about working more effectively must
deal with managing your energy itself in a better way. You experi-
ence your energy as feelings or sensations. No matter where you
start—with your bank balance, education, abilities, or experience—
learning to use your energy better will improve your financial situa-
tion and your satisfaction with your work, as well. You’ll have a
better experience of life, regardless of your current circumstances.
Feelings: Genetically Programmed Responses
to Challenges
The challenge that causes feelings may be external or internal, real
or imaginary. Standing before an audience of two thousand, about
to present an important speech, anyone would experience an in-
crease in energy from the very real and present challenge. It’s also
possible to sit at home by yourself and think about presenting a
speech to two thousand people. A few minutes of this and you will
experience the same increase in energy, even though the challenge
is completely imaginary. In intensely emotional situations, the mind
does not differentiate between something that is real and some-
thing that is imagined.
Later, when we talk about planning, you will discover that a plan
is the natural intellectualresponse to a challenge and learn how to
use that response to aid your accomplishment of any goal.
Admit Powerlessness over Your Feelings
Most people fear public speaking, although it’s not dangerous. You
are safer giving a speech than driving on the freeway, but almost no
one allows fear to prevent highway travel. Trying to explain why you
are afraid will not make you a better public speaker. Analyzing the
cause of your feelings is unproductive.
You could spend years in psychotherapy to learn why you are
terrified of public speaking. Even an accurate answer to why you
have this fear would do very little to increase your public speaking
Admit Powerlessness over Your Feelings 119