I have been there too.
Feelings are internal emotions that come and go and are based on how we perceive the world. They are real, but they are not always “true”. Simply noticing and observing a feeling is a way to practice emotional regulation.
Emotions are peculiar. But, what are they?
The many fleeting sensations that significantly influence our daily lives. We can't afford to ignore them as they color our perceptions and interactions with the world. Some emotions are wonderful, while others are tough to bear. During these intense emotional moments, it's natural to wonder how to navigate them, as they can be all-consuming.
🎒 LEARN: There are a lot of words used to describe feelings.
I don’t like feeling bad.
Like most people, I also fear experiencing intense emotions. We try to shield ourselves from the most challenging situations, which may result in us not experiencing our emotions fully. As a result, when we do experience them, they can catch us off guard and knock us down. Sometimes it’s disorienting. Sometimes we need professional help to navigate troubled waters. It’s okay to get that help AND to learn how to ease our own suffering in the body.
📕 READ: The Body Keeps the Score to dive deep, deep, deep.
Fear not…
The good news is there are some solutions right at your fingertips. There are simple techniques we can use when our nervous system is under stress. We call this social & emotional regulation.
Since we experience our emotions physically, our body controls this domain. We can't just think our way out of emotional suffering. 🤔
However, somatic (body-related) practices are accessible to everyone. 🥰 When we notice our body experiencing an emotion, we can connect with ourselves to “regulate” it, or at least not let it regulate us.
⚡ PRACTICE: Feelings can be practiced!
👩🏼🏫 Here’s how:
Observe the sensation. Can you identify the emotion?
Create a space or container for the emotion to exist.
Communicate with yourself to regain composure: How do I feel? What do I believe? What do I know? What don't I know?
Listen and reflect on your answers. Remind yourself that it takes 90 seconds for an emotion to cause a spike in cortisol in the body and for the body to flush it out again.
Great job!
At Personal Reflexive we are launching a ¡free! course for our community called “Feelings 101”.
📺 WATCH: Feelings 101
Want to keep going?
⭐ Join us here! ⭐
The Cadre community is making big strides in talking about mental health and connecting people with the mental-health services they want.
You can find Personal Reflexive live on the Cadre platform every Tuesday and Friday morning to talk about feelings.
⭐ Join us here! ⭐