Honoring Your Feelings & Tools

Good early morning,

  Since I lost my son, I find myself up at the weee hours of the morning.

Step 2 of Terez Firewoman Hartmann's 5 Step Shift Process is Honoring Your Feelings.

Let's talk about what that means and the tools for honoring our feelings:

This Topic is introduced with a very important POINT, "To honor our Feelings at ANY Stage!

One of my favorite things and sayings from this course ("Law of Attraction: Allowing Prosperity & Abundance Simplified Life Coaching) is: 

"YOU FEEL HOW YOU FEEL AND IT'S OKAY! AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT OKAY, THAT'S OKAY TOO!"

Another key point is "resisting negative emotions is still resistance". Even with our best intentions, "repressing or "suppressing" negative emotion only ADDS RESISTANCE rather than FLOW.

Here's a great article from smartnextup.com:

https://smartnextup.com/self-improvement/the-art-of-letting-go-how-to-release-negative-emotions-and-thrive/

Terez suggests that we "PIVOT" and do what needs to be done in the "MOMENT". She also suggests we create the space for ER (Express and Release) time.

Here are key pointers for not suppressing or repressing your emotions:

1. Causes health problems

2. Disconnections in relationships

3. Interferes with your ability to focus, work, create, and make "sound" decisions.

4. Causes financial flow disruption

5. When triggered, it can result in an "EXPLOSION" that can be damaging and even present REAL danger!

6. Can shorten your life!!!

Here's Terez Firewoman Hartman's suggested article link:

Why It's Vital to Identify, Process, and Express Your Emotions | Psychology Today

Here's a great article from themindsjournal.com:

https://themindsjournal.com/learn-to-honor-your-feelings/

Another helpful resource is the Cleveland Clinic's Article on "The Feelings Wheel" (I've used this one many times and found it very helpful).

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/feelings-wheel

This next section is vital for codependents and people-pleasers:

THE PRICE OF NICE:

• When you HONOR everyone else's feelings but your own, you "introduce" all kinds of resistance into your BODY.
• It's great to be LOVING and KIND, but ALL HEALTHY relationships ALLOW the BOUNDARY for SAYING "NO".
• It's wonderful to LOVE the CORE ESSENCE of all BEINGS.....

        ..... BUT you DON'T have to LIKE or AGREE with EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING!!!!!

(Remember the BUFFET ANALOGY)

https://hack-the-verse.com/2024/02/abrahams-buffet-analogy/

As Terez Firewoman Hartmann reminds us of and I've personally learned through trauma work and 12 Step programs, "YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF"!!!

And further... "YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A "MOMENT" AND "FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL"!

Here's another suggested link. This time it's a YOUTUBE from Dr. Gabor Mate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnzeLSHKQwU

NOW ARE WE READY FOR SOME TOOLS???? 

TOOL 1# EXPRESS THEM

• Express them. Recognize there is no ONE way to honor or express feelings that works for everyone! As humans, we all have different "processing styles", so what may work for you may be the OPPOSITE of what works for somebody else, so always listen to your INTERNAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR to KNOW what's BEST for YOU!

So how do you express them?

1. Think out loud and talk to your favorite ZEN MASTER PET. (I've been doing that so much lately, she's grieving too!)

2. Talk about it with someone you love and trust (your EXPERTS). Be sure to respect their NEEDS AND BOUNDARIES by ASKING, "IS THIS A GOOD TIME?"

3. Talk it over with a therapist or licensed mental health professional especially if you have challenges processing difficult EMOTIONS or have a habit of stuffing emotions.

NOTE: THERE'S NO SHAME IN ASKING FOR HELP. The ALTERNATIVE is a comprised immune system, illness, unhealthy relationship dynamics, or even shortening your LIFE! 

4. Channel your feelings into something "constructive: Artists know the power of this!

Here's a BONUS ARTICLE from TEREZ:

https://www.terezfirewoman.com/post/the-solution-ready-mind-the-power-of-music

Tool #2 EXPRESS VS OBSESS

Start with an INTENTION or DESIRE before you SPEW:

1. I want to find a way forward
2. I want to feel better
3. I want to get some clarity
4. I want to discover the next STEP

TOOL #3 See Your FEELINGS AS FRIENDS!

• Remember, Emotions and Feelings are friends that exist to INFORM you and GUIDE you FORWARD.
• NEGATIVE EMOTION is often the FUEL that ENCOURAGES YOU to "COURSE-CORRECT" and to STOP doing something that TAKES you AWAY from ABUNDANCE (LOVE, and WELL_BEING).
• The sooner you EMBRACE and ACCEPT the MOMENT, the sooner the moment will PASS- "AS ALL THINGS DO".

Here's an oldie but goodie from Emma McAdams:

Name It to Tame It: How to Process Emotions 1/30

I hope you have found this topic and blog helpful. 

I continue to walk and discover with you on this incredible journey of life,

Laura