Ann

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go

Taking Care of Ourselves Emotionally

What does it mean to take care of myself emotionally? I recognize when I'm feeling angry, and I accept that feeling without shame or blame.

I recognize when I'm feeling hurt, and I accept those feelings without attempting to punish the source of my pain. I recognize and feel fear when that emotion presents itself.

I allow myself to feel happiness, joy, and love when those emotions are available. Taking care of myself means I've made a decision that it's okay to feel.

Taking care of my emotions means I allow myself to stay with the feeling until it's time to release it and go on to the next one.

I recognize that sometimes my feelings can help point me toward reality, but sometimes my feelings are deceptive. They are important, but I do not have to let them control me. I can feel, and think too.

I talk to people about my feelings when that's appropriate and safe.

I reach out for help or guidance if I get stuck in a particular emotion.

I'm open to the lessons my emotions may be trying to teach me. After I feel, accept, and release the feeling, I ask myself what it is I want or need to do to take care of myself.

Taking care of myself emotionally means I value, treasure, explore, and cherish the emotional part of myself.

Today, I will take care of myself emotionally. I will be open to, and accepting of, the emotional part of myself and other people. I will strive for balance by combining emotions with reason, but I will not allow intellect to push the emotional part of myself away.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.

Ann

It was a huge change for me to learn to "acknowledge" my feelings. I had spent so many years hiding them, from myself and from others, that I didn't know how I really felt anymore.

Recovery has allowed me to work through many of the painful, buried feelings and also to acknowledge and deal with emotions as they happen.

I am a fairly sensitive person today, and I don't always like that, but I know it's much better than being a robot who just stuffed all the feelings way down inside.

Today I am capable of expressing my feelings appropriately as well. I'm not a living mood swing that scares the world to death.

Hugs

outonalimb

Great post Ann...Thank you.

I'm not so scared of my emotions anymore because I realize that they serve a very real purpose. I never used to examine them and try to figure out where they came from...I used to just label them as 'good' or 'bad' and if the emotion was 'bad' I tried to ignore it. Ha !! That approach certainly doesn't work very well !!

Lobo

Thanks Ann,

I needed to hear this today. I am still in therapy and working on this.

Hugs...........Lo