Meeting Your Needs

This Great Pause has shed light on my emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

I’ve had many awarenesses on what those subtle needs are and how to tune into my feelings, which act as signals. I am learning the unique characteristics and personalities of my emotions — each one needing different things. 

I’ve had conversations with my feelings, sharing that I’ll never abandon them and it’s ok to not be ok. I’ve taken responsibility to get my needs met and process the emotion. For example, I learned that my anger needs to be validated, processed and expressed. It needs to be validated, not ostracized and made wrong. Validating means sitting with it and listening, no matter how mean the voice is. To process, it needs alone time to get distance from the situation. Once processed, my anger needs to be expressed, whether through painting, yelling, punching a pillow or talking with a friend. 

I’ve learned similar processes for my grief, hopelessness, and resignation.

The common thread is the need to be seen and heard, sat with and rocked, and expressed.

It’s been helpful getting acquainted with my feelings. Knowing how to be with my emotions leaves me less susceptible to the extreme emotional highs and lows. It allows me to be objective and nurturing to myself and others. When triggered, I am better equipped to process the emotion rather than indulge in it, shifting my experience from reactive to engaged and proactive. I feels like I’m taking back the power of consciousness into my own hands! 

What would be possible if you could intentionally process emotions rather than indulge in it?

How might that shift your life?