Emotions
Emotion: There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition.
I have been feeling a range of emotions this past week.
From angry to sad, to guilt and frustration and most recently indifferent.
I am a ball of emotions but here is what I know about emotions.
Emotions are like a road sometimes they are up, sometimes they are down other times they bend you.
The one thing that I know about emotions is that we have two options:
Deal with the issue that you would ignore and confront it head on
Find another way around it or turn around (so technically 3 options but who's counting)
In order to handle our emotions we must get through them to get past them.
Let that sink in for a second and re-read the above sentence.
Now I want you to imagine that you are walking down a road and there is something up ahead that you don’t want to deal with, what do you do?
You can either walk right up to it and confront it or you can turn around and run the other way or you can stop right where you are and wait until that said thing meets up with you.
I know you are probably thinking but I don’t want to deal with this thing that is really really upsetting me in my life, it is way easier to ignore it.
OR you might be thinking okay I am going to confront it head, but also a little bit scared to do that.
Trust me I GET IT!!
Here is the catch, emotions, yup all emotions need motion.
No matter how much you want to run and escape the emotions that you are feeling they need motion.
What do I mean by that?
It means that even if you want to run away from your pain, fears, past traumas, etc. You need to breathe motion into them so that you don’t get stuck in that place with your emotions.
Here is how you can get out of that hard place with your emotions and find resilience:
For those that cannot do a hard exercise right now ( no judgement at all):
Drink water!
Why? Because it will LITERALLY help you move the energy in your body I promise you. Start drinking a lot of water and peeing so that you are physically moving energy.
Free write
Why? This will allow you to put pen to paper to any thoughts, emotions or words that you need to get out of your brain.
Do some light stretching
Why? Because once you drink that water you want to move your lymph system so that it can continue to move out all of the stored energy and toxins.
Breath work
Why?Because breathing deeply allows you to move your myofascial tissue that stores a LOT of your emotions. When you simply take a deep breath you are breathing life force back into the areas that you were holding tightly.
For those that want to do exert energy immediately:
Go for a run/sprint!
Why? Because when we feel that energy that is wanting us to exert force immediately your body is communicating with you. Give it what it needs. This is usually your bodies way of getting anger out, so listen to it.
Lift weights or do a HIIT workout!
Why? Similarly with running this high intensity is allowing you to move stored energy out quickly. The difference with HIIT and weight lifting is that you can usually catch a break in between and this will allow your body to really exert energy under a set amount of time, so give it your all.
For those that want to be in the middle:
Do an online class!
Why? Because sometimes we just need someone else to lead us through a workout and let our brains relax. I am loving Melissa Wood Health.
Yoga/ Breath work!
Why? Because moving your body and breathing deeply will allow you to continue to process what is going on.
By allowing ourselves to work through the emotions that we are carrying we are achieving resilience.
In order for anything to change in our lives, our communities, the world as a whole, we MUST work through it.
Talk to you soon!
Xo,
Ali Lynn Kates
