“I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune

Emotions call our attention when needed and provide us with useful information.

That is the idea.

But most people, and that includes leaders, clients, and coaches, let emotions determine their actions.

They react to emotions, make decisions based on the way they feel, and let themselves be overwhelmed by their emotions.

As they often don’t like the consequences, they’ll try to resist the emotions or deny them.

Or, as they fear the consequences of being subject to emotions, they’ll try to transform the emotions they don’t like into ones they like. It is denying one’s emotions.

The option they’ll rarely choose is to let the emotions be present and continue whatever they are doing. In being present to that activity, the emotions that appeared will continue their path.

There is no need to be content, happy, free of anger, or of fear to execute one’s activity.

The presence of emotions does not need to be an indicator of one’s performance. It will, however, if the emotions determine the action.