Got Fear, Anger, Anxiety, and Other Toxic Emotions Dragging You Down?

Here's a simple process I use daily to self-examine and transcend my lower self

Jun 18, 2025

Color image of a flower on a black background — Image credit, author.

Once upon a time, I was a real mess. I didn’t like myself, and because of that, I didn’t like certain people, places, and things that I judged harshly. Over the last two decades, I’ve developed a spiritual life that enables me to transcend the lower emotions that used to shock my system.

Here’s the context for using the worksheet that helps me and others live free of the lower, toxic emotions that drag us into the dark, those with whom we work and live, and often, the people we love the most.

You’re angry, holding a grudge, thinking about revenge, and you're a mess

If this is you, welcome to humanity. Feel free to use the worksheet below if you’re struggling with any person, place, or thing that’s bothering you.

But first, here’s what my model for the Ladder of Consciousness looks like:

A metaphoric ladder of consciousness illustration — Image created using AI and my model of consciousness.

S.H.I.F.T. Yourself, Change Your Life Worksheet™

I created this worksheet to help you break through personal or professional difficulties by shifting your perspective, energy, and intention. Use it when feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, stuck, or unsure.

Be honest. Write freely. Working on yourself will empower you to find clarity, higher purpose, and prosperity.

S — Self-Awareness: What problem am I facing right now? How is it affecting my thoughts, emotions, actions, or energy? What negative emotions are you having towards anything?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

H — Higher Understanding: What more profound truth or root cause might be beneath this issue? What is your part in the challenges you’re having? What is this problem trying to teach me or reveal? (e.g., fear, expectation, experience, unmet need, false belief)

I — Introspection: Where have I seen this pattern before? How have I consciously or unconsciously contributed to or stayed stuck in this problem?

F — Focused Intention: What do I truly want instead of this problem? How do I like to think, feel, act, or respond going forward?

T — Transformation: What is one simple, specific action I can take today to move forward with clarity and purpose? What would the most evolved, wise version of me do next?

Our purpose is to transcend the things we dislike the most about ourselves and others

Our purpose is to create, thrive, and love. It’s to discover who we are by knowing who we are not, end the posing and wearing the masks of our fake personas, and find work that pays our bills and feeds some aspect of our souls. It’s to cooperate more than to compete.

It’s to find clarity, purpose, and prosperity no matter how hard life gets. In other words, it’s to climb or ascend what I call The Ladder of Consciousness.

As humans, we are the only animals roaming the earth able to question, think, and improve ourselves. Conversely, we’re the only animals that use our lower emotions to ruin drink, drug, game, and gamble ourselves into a living hell.

You don’t have to stay stuck in the same old emotional loops — anger, fear, guilt, or shame. We’ve all been there. What matters most is what you choose to do next. This simple S.H.I.F.T. Worksheet is a tool you can use any time to rise above the lower self that drags you down.

You were born with the power to change your life

The best way to approach changing your life is to lift your consciousness using the ladder (metaphor) any time you feel negative, toxic emotions, especially resentments, and the seeking of revenge.

We are the only creatures on Earth who can reflect, grow, and rise. But we’re also the only ones who self-destruct when we lose our way. The good news? You don’t have to stay in the dark. You can climb. You can change. You can S.H.I.F.T.

The next move is yours.

I’m an author, visual artist, speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, and family man, helping willing organizations and individuals find clarity, purpose, and prosperity. Learn more at www.CliffordJones.