How to process emotions…really
by Patricia McGuire, LPC-MHSP
Do you ever feel like your emotions linger for hours or days…or maybe even weeks? Our emotions can be overwhelming and difficult at times. However, our emotions are designed to help us navigate the complexities of life. Emotions are messengers that provide context and guidance in response to our experience. For example, sadness may signal a loss, injustice, or pain. Happiness may be a cue that what we are experiencing is pleasant or fulfilling.
We can feel stuck in our emotions when we don’t allow ourselves to understand and feel them. Many of us have learned that some emotions are "positive” and others are “negative” and we reactively avoid or repress “negative” emotions. When we do this, we may end up numbing ourselves to important parts of our life.
When we feel and understand all emotions, we deepen our self awareness and relieve stress. Here is how you can process emotions, really:
Name the emotion you feel (ex. “I feel sad right now.”)
Acknowledge & accept the emotion without trying to change it (ex. “I accept this feeling of sadness as part of my experience.”)
Get curious about your emotion with nonjudgment (ex. “Did something external or internal trigger this sadness for me?”)
Engage in self-care while feeling your emotion (ex. “I will let myself cry and breathe through this feeling of sadness.”)
When we fully observe our emotional experiences as it moves through us, we amplify our compassion for ourselves and for others.
Go deeper:
Tara Brach: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/
Kristen Neff: https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-practices/
If this resonated with you and you’d like to explore these ideas further, connect with Patricia McGuire Counseling here
