Hi everyone,
Today I want to share an exercise that has helped me process and understand my emotions for many years. I highly recommend this exercise to everyone, and I believe it would be amazing if it could be taught from an early age. If you have difficulties expressing and understanding your emotions, this exercise can be incredibly beneficial. It is also helpful when you don’t know how to respond to a situation. Instead of reacting immediately, take a time out, do this exercise, and then reassess the situation. You will likely gain more clarity on how to proceed from an authentic place aligned with your values.
How to Do It
First, find a space where you can be alone and relax. This exercise requires total honesty with yourself. You will need a pen and paper. Before continuing, I want to clarify that this exercise is good for people who need clarity or help expressing their emotions. However, if you have anger issues and connecting with these emotions puts you in a place where you feel out of control, or if feeling your emotions takes you to a place where you don’t know how to manage them, please avoid this exercise or do it with a trauma therapist.
Let's Jump into the Exercise:
Choose a Situation: Think of any situation that makes you feel confused or lost. It could be related to a person, workplace, family member, or anything else that generates emotional confusion or makes you feel stuck in one emotion. Take a moment to connect with that situation.
2. Write Down Your Emotions: Start writing how you feel and connect with each emotion. I will provide a guide below with prompt questions to help you. It’s important to be honest. This is not the time to try to be correct; it's a time to express your raw emotions. Afterward, you can throw away the paper if you don’t want anyone to see it. This exercise is for you to connect with yourself and gain clarity. If you work with a therapist, it might be helpful to share this tool and the paper, as it can provide valuable insights into how you feel.
Take a few deep breaths, and let's start:
Express Anger: Write down everything that makes you angry about the situation. You can start with, "I hate it when..."
Express Disappointment: Write what makes you feel disappointed. You can start with, "I feel so disappointed when..." or "I feel so sad when..."
Express Insecurity and Fear: Write about what makes you feel insecure and fearful. You can start with, "I'm afraid that..." or "It scares me when..."
Understanding and Empathy: Write statements that express understanding and empathy. You can start with, "I'm sorry that..." or "Please forgive me for..."
Love, Solution, and Intentions: Write about what you want to achieve, your forgiveness, and your love. You can start with, "I want to...", "I forgive you for...", and "I love you because..."
This exercise can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and emotional healing. Remember, it’s essential to be patient with yourself and practice self-compassion as you work through your emotions.
Wishing you clarity and peace :)
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