Listening to our emotions is a key part of taking care of our mental health. But allowing ourselves to actually feel can at times be uncomfortable or even scary because we don't know what to expect. Our feelings are simply messengers that show us where we need to heal.
Create space for your feelings, welcome them in, and listen to what they have to say.
Use the tools below as guides to help you get started.
Feel Your Feelings
There is a concept in Psychology that says, if you can name it you can tame it. What this means, is that if you can identify or name your emotion you can process or move through it much easier because you know what it is. Once we "name it", we must create space for that emotion so we can "tame it".
Below is a resource you can use for this process:
Identifying Our Feelings (video)
Calming Overwhelm
One of the best ways to manage emotional overwhelm is by journaling. The act of putting pen to paper disrupts an overactive mind by slowing down thoughts and allowing us to process our feelings. You can use a blank notebook, your phone, or computer. Don't worry about how it looks, grammar, or spelling. This is not for anyone else's eyes but yours. The important part is that you get what's in your head onto 'paper'.
Reflective Journaling
Reflection is the foundation of our emotional and mental wellness. And there is no better way to practice reflection than now. In some ways life has slowed down for us. Lets take advantage of this opportunity and look inward.
Journaling is a great way to practice reflection. But sometimes that blank piece of paper can be intimidating. While there are a number of resources online right now, one that we find particularly helpful is this Journaling Guide from The Blissful Mind. It explains the benefits of journaling in a simple and practical way. And best of all it provides you with journaling prompts to get you started.