Monday Madness

Tavia Robinson
Sep 8
3 min read

Monday Madness: Mastering Emotional Ownership in a Chaotic World

“People make a great leap forward in well-being and productivity when they claim responsibility for their feelings.”

-Gay Hendricks

In times of high-stakes leadership, political tension, and rapid change, one of the most powerful choices you can make as a leader, creator, or contributor is this:

Own your emotional experience.

Take a mindful pause with me.

Right now—wherever you are—put the phone down for a moment. Turn off the noise.

Breathe in deeply…

Exhale slowly…

Again, breathe in…

Let it go…

One more time. Inhale.

Exhale… Now bring your awareness fully into the now.

What’s surfacing for you emotionally?

What’s been pushing your buttons lately?
Where are you feeling most reactive?
What emotions do you wish you could better understand or express?

Most of us—especially under pressure—default to a powerful narrative:

“They made me mad.”

“That situation frustrated me.”

“I can’t believe they did that.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the reality: Emotions aren’t imposed on you. They’re activated within you.

And while it’s valid to feel them all, it’s also empowering to take full responsibility for how you respond.

As Gay Hendricks reminds us, when we don’t take responsibility for our feelings, we unwittingly cast ourselves in the role of the victim. This limits our agency, influence, and capacity for growth.

What if your emotions are valuable intel from your inner landscape?

“Taking responsibility means never blaming anyone else for anything you are being, doing, having, or feeling.” — Susan Jeffers

As a PCC-level coach, I’ve witnessed transformational breakthroughs happen the moment someone stops outsourcing their emotional reality and begins to integrate it. When you name it, you can tame it. And when you own it, you can transform it.

Coaching Reflection Prompts:

How do you typically react when an emotion like anger, disappointment, or fear shows up?
What belief might be hiding underneath your strongest emotional reactions?
What emotions are trying to reveal something about your needs, values, or boundaries?

Practice the Shift: From Reaction to Responsibility

Let it out, mindfully:

Allow your feelings to rise without judgment. Emotions are messengers, not enemies.

Disengage with dignity:

Step away from reactive or toxic conversations. What unmet needs are asking for attention?

Love yourself through it: Ask:

What support do I need to heal?
What boundaries am I ready to reinforce?
What would self-trust look like today?

Stay curious:

Instead of defaulting to blame or avoidance, ask: What can I learn about myself here?

Growth is a lifelong expedition—and you’ve only just begun to uncover your full terrain.

Executive Coaching Call to Action:

In today’s high-performance, high-pressure environments, self-awareness isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a strategic advantage. When leaders take emotional ownership, they inspire trust, create psychological safety, and elevate team performance.