Feel all of your feelings.
The idea of feeling of your feelings can be scary, right? Some of us are taught that all of our feelings are not okay. Over time, we learned how to compartmentalize. We tucked pieces of our feelings away. Pieces of ourselves away. Just made it easier to get through the day. To survive.
Compartmentalizing made sense as a way to stay safe. Unfortunately, the actions of splitting and denying yourself aren’t free. Those survival techniques come with a cost. The price manifests in ways such as anxiety, depression, addiction, ulcers, emotional eruptions, migraines and emotional or physical isolation.
Now those feelings can seem so big they are unmanageable or so distant you cannot reach them. One: you will survive. You won’t be swallowed by either the depth of your emotions or what may appear to be the gulf between you and them. You have made it this far. You can do it. Two: start small. The “Go Big or Go Home” culture of the United States does not apply here. If you want to apply anything from that philosophy, let the commitment to claiming your whole self. What do you want to feel more of? Joy? Peace? Pleasure? Start with one area or feeling and get to exploring and expanding.
You deserve to feel the full range of your emotions. You deserve to access the full range of your humanity. You deserve to stand in the world in the fullness of yourself.
Action: Suggested ways to begin (that you can do today).
Get a therapist. (Ok, choosing a therapist is not immediate, but you can decide to give therapy a try today. I’m always recommending therapy to remove the stigma and because I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.)
Dance. Put on the musical equivalent to your feelings and dance it out. Let your emotions and the music run through your body.
Share your commitment with a trusted person in your life.
Scream or yell out loud. If disturbing others is of concern, scream or yell into a pillow. The point is to let it out. Vocalize.
Draw your inner life. Paint, color, sketch your feelings.
Talk into the voice recorder on your phone. You can speak as a certain feeling, speak to someone, or talk to a feeling.
However you are able, choose to start today to reclaim the vibrancy of your emotional life.