We often forget
that there is a big difference between acknowledging a feeling and acting it
out.
Humans have
feelings - it comes with the territory. Some
are soft and fluffy and others are denser… you know, maybe even painful.
If we deny having
these challenging feelings, more times than not they get us in trouble. Pushing things down is a make-shift strategy.
Remember squishing
mud as a kid? It didn't disappear. It just showed up someplace else!
When we allow
ourselves to recognize our feelings we are in a position to make choices about
how we deal with them.
DANCE WITH IT! EXPERIENTIAL APPS
An opportunity to
experiment with some fun ideas…
FACING FEAR
Fear comes with the territory of being human - another one of
those reactions to things that was probably originally a major life saver!
Fear of the dark kept us inside when
the predators were out hunting…
Fear
of those snakes kept us out of the bushes…
You get the idea. Fear in itself is not toxic! Maybe just the opposite.
What becomes emotionally toxic is what we
do with it…
Do you tell yourself not to be afraid?
Do you panic when you become frightened
of something?
Do you try to overcome fear by masking it
with drugs and alcohol?
Think about the last time something
frightened you. How did you handle it?
Now, re-imagine that situation.
First, give yourself permission to feel
frightened.
Now,
tell yourself that it's a normal reaction.
Next
imagine breathing deeply and finding a physical balance-point, where your body
and gravity are working together.
Does this feel different
than the original experience?
How?
