“Emotional regulation is not about not feeling. Neither is it exerting tight control over what we feel. And it’s not about banishing negative emotions and feeling only positive ones. Rather, emotional regulation starts with giving ourselves and others the permission to own our feelings—all of them.” ~Marc Brackett
Imagine this: you’re stuck in traffic on your way to work. You have an important meeting you must be on time for. The GPS keeps taunting you, bumping your arrival time later with every red light. You reach for your coffee to ease the frustration—and spill it all over your shirt. Just perfect. You walk into the office five minutes late, frazzled, frustrated, and ready to write off the rest of the day. If this scenario feels familiar, you’re not alone. Emotional overwhelming moments like these are more common than most people admit. In fact, it often starts with one stressor and builds until your entire nervous system is in survival mode.
Your body has two built-in systems to manage stress: the sympathetic system (your fight-or-flight response) and the parasympathetic system (your rest-and-digest mode). A healthy balance between the two is key for emotional regulation, physical wellness, and yes, even decision-making. A simple way to hit the reset button is to sigh—literally. Take two deep breaths and then let the second one out slowly. That long exhale sends a signal to your brain that you’re safe and in control.
This same mindset applies to your finances. When you’re in a constant state of emotional reactivity, it’s easy to make impulsive decisions—overspending to cope, avoiding bills, or neglecting savings because it feels overwhelming. But when you pause, breathe, and regain control, you’re more capable of making smart, intentional financial choices. No more Amazon packages showing up at your front door or unexplainable “just because” purchases.
Financial planning, like emotional regulation, is about anticipating stress before it escalates. Creating a budget, building an emergency fund, and checking in with your goals regularly helps lower that low-grade anxiety that simmers in the background. Just like your nervous system, your financial life thrives with balance.
The next time life spills (metaphorical or literal) coffee on your day, take a breath before reacting. You have the power to respond instead of reacting. Whether it’s to traffic, a tense meeting, or your next financial move— you are in control.
Marilyn Suey
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
marilyn.suey@diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com
Marilyn Suey is a Registered Representative with, and securities and Retirement Plan Consulting Program advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. Other advisory services offered through Mariner Independent Advisor Network, LLC a Registered Investment Advisor. The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors and Mariner Independent Advisor Network, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial.CA Insurance License #0E01981
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification mark CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification mark.
Marilyn is the Founder and CEO of The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors. She is a nationally recognized Financial Educator, Author, Speaker, and Wealth Manager, who you may have seen on NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX network affiliates and Yahoo News, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, Wall Street Select and others. Marilyn and her team at The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors have been showing business owners, healthcare professionals, and executives how to accumulate, preserve, and pass on their wealth for almost 20 years. Marilyn developed The Prosperity Blue Print , a five-step wealth planning process, that includes strategy for Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Preservation, and planning for your ideal retirement lifestyle. She founded the Savvy Women Community where she shares her wisdom and experience with like-minded women. She received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in Applied Math and Economics from UC Berkeley. To schedule your complimentary Lifestyle Upgrade Assessment, call: (925) 219-0080 or email; marilyn.suey@diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com
