Managing Emotions Pt 7: Develop Non-Judgmental Self-Awareness with the Truth Statement “I can feel what I feel without judging myself for it”
To develop Non-Judgmental Self Awareness, imagine making friends with someone. To get to know this individual, you ask questions to learn about them from a place of authentic curiosity. This step is important because as we move forward, you are going to redefine your relationship with yourself. This is a statement to help guide the […]
Managing Emotions Pt 6: Develop Non-Judgmental Self-Awareness with the Truth Statement “I am worth getting to know”
To develop Non-Judgmental Self Awareness, imagine making friends with someone. To get to know this individual, you ask questions to learn about them from a place of authentic curiosity. This step is important because as we move forward, you are going to redefine your relationship with yourself. This is a statement to help guide the […]
Managing Emotions Pt 5: Develop Non-Judgmental Self-Awareness
What I like to call “Non-Judgmental Self-Awareness” (an aspect of mindfulness) is a pillar in managing emotions. It is developing the ability to just “sit” with your feelings. If you become aware of having a case of the “shoulds” or “shouldnt’s,” gently remind yourself that you are “shoulding” all over yourself and that leaves us […]
Managing Emotions: “Emotions are my enemy!” Pt 4
This is not a judgment, just a question. Did your family teach you emotional literacy and managing emotions? Did they teach you how to manage emotions in a healthy way? Did they teach you to validate, observe, connect and express emotions? If so, I am so incredibly glad! Families and schools often teach physical hygiene, […]
Managing Emotions: “Emotions are my enemy!” Pt 3
From personal experience, I can share that emotions felt to me like what Winston Churchill said about a world power: “It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma: but perhaps there is a key.” Emotions felt like trying to dealing with an unpredictable, powerful experience that often didn’t make sense to me. […]
Managing Emotions: “Emotions are my enemy!” Pt 2
Was there pressure in your life to “put on a face and be happy” much of the time? You may now feel guilty when you experience unhappy emotions because of possibly experiencing punishment/shame for feeling/expressing “negative” emotions. There are plenty of other examples you have probably experienced for yourself. All these interactions, messages, and dysfunctional […]
Managing Emotions: “Emotions are my enemy!” Pt 1
Learning to manage emotions is one of the most important abilities that we can develop. To start the path of developing this ability, we have to start uncovering where the current points of view about our emotions come from. Are you afraid to experience uncomfortable emotions or even allow yourself to fully feel pleasant emotions […]
Hope: It Hurts. And it Helps.
Hope Hurts I remember often hearing people say “hold onto hope!” during a speech or sermon. Martin Luther King Jr. said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” I recall reading about the indomitable human spirit in a book or poem: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul […]
Relapse Prevention: Putting it all together
Relapse prevention is truly a series of daily lifestyle choices that support your health and well-being. Relapse prevention is also what is called a “living document,” which stays open to adjustments, customization, and adding information to reflect your growth. If you have completed this series on relapse prevention, congratulations! You are doing important, life-changing work […]
Relapse Prevention: Avoiding All-or-Nothing Thinking
All-or-Nothing thinking is also known as Black-and-White thinking. Some people also call it “My way or the highway.” It is a cognitive distortion where you see things as either entirely good or entirely bad, without considering the gray areas in between. This is a stress-inducing, anger provoking, sadness producing, self-sabotaging way of viewing yourself and […]