Did you notice that hearts and roses showed up in stores before Santa even had a chance to come down the chimney? If you’ve been trying to ignore the growing isles of red, it’s time to admit that February is finally here. Yes, V-Day. It can be as full of expectation, excitement, thrill and disappointment as Christmas. So, how do you deal?

The emotions of the month have us thinking a lot about the “Do” and “Tell” truths in our lives.

“Do” – Demonstrate how you would show love to a cranky person.

“Tell” – How easy or difficult is it for you to tell others how you really feel?

“Risk” – How do you feel when someone you love seems mad?

You don’t have to be playing Do Tell: The Relationship Game to consider these kinds of questions around Valentine’s Day. It’s a time when we are encouraged to show our love, AND we hope to get a little love shown to us in return… which is always the dicey part, isn’t it?

Whether you’re in a romantic relationship or not, these can be dangerous waters for emotions.  There are many questions around love that cannot be handled with rational solutions. But instead of thinking that emotions are getting in your way of making the right choices, think of them as an internal guidance system to head you in the right direction.

You may have been taught to discredit your emotions in favor of rationality or because someone else wants you to feel a certain way, but don’t.

That pit in your stomach is there for a reason. It may be the one thing that helps you make the most rational choice. Here’s why. Emotions are a signal. They can tell you that something is right or that something is wrong.

When your emotions go awry, it’s time to reconnect with yourself.  When you do that you can easily identify the problem and make the best choice for yourself.

When we pay attention to our emotions and make conscious choices, our lives can change rapidly into what we’ve wanted for a long time.

You can find the happiness you deserve.

So, the next time you find yourself  “emotional” over a situation, don’t criticize yourself. Don’t stuff it. Stop. Ask yourself what would help you feel better right in this moment. Pay attention to the answer and you can take a step towards connecting to a happier you.