Moving On With Life: A Guide to Processing Emotions
Written by: Nick Wong
Introduction
Life is like an emotional rollercoaster. It is filled with the ups and downs that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Whether you’re dealing with a breakup, a bad grade, a loss, major life changes, or simply the common daily challenges that come your way, processing your emotions is a very important step in moving forward. In this specific blog post, we will learn strategies to help guide you and your emotions through a soothing journey toward healing and personal growth.
Acceptance
The first step in processing your emotions is acknowledging them and treating them like information. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, or anxious. Try to keep in mind that everyone who is doing okay now has had these negative emotions and experiences where they thought the world was going to end. These emotions are a natural part of being human and they provide valuable insight about what’s happening in our lives. Try to sit down, name the emotions you are feeling, and allow yourself to immerse in them. Ask yourself why you feel this way. If you cannot find why, just acknowledge and accept it. The last thing is to let those feelings rest and thank your mind for letting you know about them without any self-judgment. Do be sure to look for physical tells of emotions such as quivering lips, sweaty palms, chest pressure, etc.
Example:
“What am I feeling? Is it anger? No, I feel a little chest pressure which I usually feel when I am sad. Okay then. Why am I sad? I’m sad because my friend put aside my feelings earlier. Do they usually care about my feelings? Well, of course, but it hurt anyway. I will be sure to have a conversation with them whenever possible.”
Journaling Correctly
You may have searched the internet already for topics like this blog just for them to tell you to start journaling and write down your emotions and thoughts. However, many people are not sure of how to journal. Many people say that you SHOULD journal, but nobody teaches you well… how to journal. Here are some different ways to journal properly.
The first way to journal is to write about emotionally engaging experiences (things that make you feel good or bad) that are meant for you. This is the simplest way to journal. Since you are free writing, there is no endpoint and you also may be asking, “How much am I supposed to write or how do I know when I’m done?” Well. It doesn’t matter. Journaling isn’t about trying to do it in the correct way or the wrong way. Journaling gives you the idle time and space in order for your mind to start subconsciously processing on its own.
On the other hand, some people may say, “Well I don’t wanna journal about that.” This is the natural resistance that comes when we want to avoid those experiences. This is probably why whenever we want to avoid confronting these experiences, we resort back to things that give us dopamine and distractions such as social media, video games, drugs/alcohol, or memes just to hook us back into defaulting to distractions and wondering how we should deal with these emotions. In that case, you can simply write about what happened or things that occurred this week. But why? Let me remind you that the goal is not for your mind to logically decide the pros and cons. The goal is to remember that what we’re missing in society is time and space for our minds to digest what has happened to us.
Finding a Support Team
You don’t have to go through your emotional journey alone. Reach out to friends, family, or a professional for support. Talking to someone you trust can provide a safe space to express your feelings and gain different perspectives on your situation. If your goal is to find what you want for yourself in the future and find direction, I would recommend coaching or spirituality. Otherwise,t if you feel burdened by the past, I would stick with a therapist. Overall, our support team should include people who help us feel positive, open, and honest, but also help us guide our thoughts away from the inner voice telling us we aren’t good enough.
Other Notable Practices to Consider
Meditation and mindfulness exercises can be a great way to clear the mind while becoming more aware of your emotions. These techniques can reduce stress and anxiety while promoting emotional resilience. Consider adding these to your emotional processing routine as it can be a good start if you need an assist recognizing and labeling emotions.
Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is important when processing emotions. Take part in things that nourish the body and mind, such as exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. Self-care can help build you back up while providing the energy you need to move forward in your journey.
Conclusion
This may have been a lot of information to handle all at once but remember that it is your journey at your own pace. It is okay to take your time and seek help whenever needed. By acknowledging your emotions, seeking support from others, or using any of the practices mentioned above, you can journey through life’s obstacles and come out stronger on the other side. Embrace these opportunities for personal growth that processing your emotions can offer, and be confident, courageous, and self-compassionate.
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