The Emotional Roller Coaster

What feelings do you get when you ride a roller coaster?  For some people, it’s a high!  For other people, it’s terrifying.  Life is the same way--like the old saying “life is a roller coaster.”  At times, we can be sent rocketing toward adrenaline-boosted highs. But, then, it can also throw us into a downward spiral with emotional lows.

Life as an official is no doubt the same:  adrenaline-boosting highs and downward spiraling lows.  The question is this:  when you get off the roller coaster—how do you feel?  Some people get off a roller coaster and are ready to jump back in line.  Others get off the same ride to find the nearest trash can!  As officials, we want to find the middle.  Our emotions don’t need to be bound to these ups and downs.  If we appear too confident when things go well and we are on a high, we may lose focus on what got us to the high.  On the other hand, when we are at a point things seem to be spiraling downward, we can’t keep looking down.

The goal is to model consistency in our emotions.  When were in the game (riding the roller coaster), our emotions need to be steady.  The key is to have steady emotions both outwardly and inwardly.  Then, at the end of game (when we exit the roller coaster), we don’t want to get caught in a trap of being emotionally high or heading for the nearest trash can.

2 Timothy 1: 7:  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

God did not give us a spirit of cowardice or of fear.  He gives us a spirit of power, love, calmness, well balanced mind, discipline and self-control.  In reality, we may not always act in this way.  But, we must remember that’s how we were made and have the ability to control our emotions.

“One thing you can't hide - is when you're crippled inside.” ― John Lennon

Sometimes you succeed.... and other times you learn.