Tend To Yourself Thursday {6/20}: A Truth About Emotions

Welcome to another Tend To Yourself Thursday. In keeping with this month’s theme of stress & anxiety, another common misconception: the belief that stress and anxiety are bad, and that feeling states are things to be fixed. This belief can lead us to struggle against our natural emotional experiences rather than embracing them as part of our humanity.

I know I’ve felt frustrated with myself for having feelings and emotions that were unpleasant, that I “knew better” than, or thought I “shouldn’t” be struggling with. {so much compassion for past versions of myself}

Redefining Our Relationship with Emotions: Emotions and feeling states are neither good nor bad—they are simply part of being human. They contain information for us about what’s going on and what we need. Our limbic system (emotional brain) was designed to help us survive by making us feel so we could act in accordance with our need to run, fight, or form social bonds. Instead of seeing them as problems to be fixed, we can learn to view them as valuable signals and sources of insight. By embracing our emotions with compassion, we can foster deeper self-understanding and healing.

An essential key to reducing our struggle with stress and anxiety is not trying to fix or eliminate these feeling experiences, but rather noticing, accepting, and allowing them to be as they are. When we stop “shoulding” on ourselves, we stop holding ourselves back from the process of moving through what’s going on with grace.

This week, I invite you to notice where you might be thinking you “should” be having a different experience than you are, whether emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually, and use these inquiries for gentle reflection:

• How were my emotions and feeling states responded to in childhood or past relationships?
• Where is the should coming from? Whose voice is this?
• What is this part of me afraid, concerned, or worried about?
• What kind of support does this part need?

By embracing your emotions with compassion, you can navigate them more effectively and with greater resilience. If you need support on this journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a week of compassionate self-awareness and acceptance.

Warmly,
Elana