Strategies for Stressful Situations
In a world that often encourages us to focus on gratitude and joy, it's important to remember that it's okay to feel a range of emotions, both positive and negative. Back in November, I shared my perspective on finding gratitude in the small things, emphasizing the significance of appreciating life's little moments. (Link to blog post here) Today, I want to delve into another aspect of emotional well-being – the acceptance of all feelings.
In early January I discussed stress, in particular how it likes to chill out on the top left quadrant of my body. (Blog post here)
Today I want to share with you this tidbit: Looking for the good in the small things does NOT mean that you can’t feel bad, sad, stressed, disappointment, or even anger! All feelings are valid.
Having a well-rounded approach to holistic health is not just about your food and physical habits. Feeling bad, sad, stressed, disappointed, or even angry is a natural part of the human experience. It's crucial to recognize that suppressing these emotions can be detrimental to your mental health as well as your physical health. Instead, we should embrace them as valid responses to the challenges life throws our way.
Strategies for Navigating Stressful Situations:
I’m going to get this out of the way, a massage is amazing! It’s amazing to help process, to help relax, to help unwind, to help relieve pain and tension from injury or stress. Yes, a massage would be great to help alleviate stressful situations. But we can’t have a massage every minute of every day, so here are some things we CAN do in the meantime! 😉
1. Mindful Awareness: Acknowledge your emotions without judgment. Mindfulness allows you to observe your feelings without getting entangled in them. Understand that it's okay to feel the way you do. This is something I work on DAILY. Not always successfully. And that’s okay!
2. Express Yourself: Share your feelings with someone you trust or consider expressing them through writing. Verbalizing emotions can provide relief and foster a sense of connection. If you get stuck on a feeling and can’t really express it, I like to use this “feelings wheel” to hone in on exactly what you're feeling. (There are many different ones you can find with a google search).
3. Healthy Outlets: Engage in activities that serve as healthy outlets for stress, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. These can help release built-up tension and contribute to a more balanced emotional state. I never exercise harder, with more passion, and more strength than when I’m upset about something. It really helps to process the situation and get out the frustrations! But sometimes meditation works best, or taking a walk.
4. Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend. Practice self-compassion by acknowledging that everyone goes through challenging times. Have you heard the saying, “What would you say to your friend or your child if they were going through this situation?”
What do you think works best for you when you need to process emotions, whether good or not so good? Have you tried any of these strategies? Did they seem to help?
And if you’re thinking, okay, I’ve done all the things and feel like it’s time to get a massage, feel free to reach out to schedule! Or click this LINK. I’m always happy to see you! 💜
Valerie 👣
