Can Your feelings Kill You?
Posted on September 20, 2016 by Erina Calder, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
In our epic struggle to master our emotions, there is often a crossover point where we stop allowing ourselves to FEEL them...
Been around a toddler lately? If yes, then you may have experienced their adorable laughter as well as their wild tantrums when the person they love leaves the room or pries a dangerous object from their grasp.
As we mature, we learn to stop showing our feelings so much. At least to the outside world, right?
In our epic struggle to master our emotions, there is often a crossover point where we stop allowing ourselves to FEEL them. We find myriad ways to avoid feelings; overeating, over-drinking, surfing the net, watching TV, shopping…the list goes on.
So what DOES happen when you allow yourself to feel your negative feelings?
Case in point, the toddler. He gets mad/sad. He cries. He might throw himself on the floor, kick and scream. (Know any adults who act out a bit?)
So…can your feelings kill you?
The truth is you’re far more likely to die from avoiding your feelings. People put themselves in harms way all the time to avoid their feelings. They become addicted to feeling changers – pot, wine, unhealthy relationships and hey, McDonalds. They focus heavily on other people’s lives and choices to avoid thinking about their own. They spend years in front of the TV.
All in an effort NOT to feel.
Consider the toddler again. Do strong feelings stay around forever? Not at all. As devastated as they are to be left with a sitter, ten minutes later, they are usually playing again.
Yes, it’s true that we are way more complex than toddlers. We obsess on our heartbreak and rejections and make them mean all kinds of things about who we are. (Different blog.)
But the principle remains the same.
A feeling is a bodily response to our thoughts, and if we change our thoughts, our feelings will change too. But first, we have to let ourselves feel our feelings, so we can figure out the thoughts that are causing them.
Three questions for you today:
1. What breakthrough lies hidden behind the door of the feelings you are avoiding?
2. Can you identify the habits that help YOU not to feel?
3. What would happen if you decided to do without your escape habits for 28 days (one lunar cycle)?
Changing the way you think can be a daunting process. If you or a loved one could benefit from working with a life coach about the way you feel, contact me to schedule a free consultation.
And practise feeling those feelings, folks.
