Creating Space for Emotions: Practical Tips for Personal Growth - Episode 24
Emotional blocks can significantly hinder your growth and overall well-being, often resulting in avoidance behaviors such as procrastination and denial. Here are three simple yet powerful techniques to help you address and overcome these emotional barriers. Drawing inspiration from The Adult Chair® Model, these simple strategies facilitate transformation and empower you on your journey toward emotional healing and personal growth.
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This episode covers:
(00:09:08) Technique 1: Awareness and Presence in the Adult Chair®
(00:14:30) Technique 2: Inner Child Dialogue
(00:20:03) Technique 3: Empowerment and Decision-Making
3 Simple Techniques to Overcome Emotional Blocks
1. Recognize Your Options
The first step in overcoming emotional blocks is to cultivate awareness and presence. This involves recognizing your emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Here’s how to practice this technique:
Take a Deep Breath: Start by grounding yourself with a deep breath. This will help to regulate your nervous system and bring you into the present moment.
Ask Yourself: "What am I feeling right now?" Pay attention to any resistance, fear, or discomfort that arises.
Tune Into Your Body: Notice where you might be holding tension. For example, relax your forehead, drop your tongue from the roof of your mouth, and release any tightness in your body.
Mindful Breathing: Place your hand on your heart, close your eyes, and breathe into the emotion, acknowledging its presence without trying to change it.
By allowing yourself to experience your emotions fully, you create a space for them to be seen and understood.
2. Inner Child Dialogue
Connecting with your inner child can be a powerful way to address emotional blocks. This technique helps you tap into the part of you that carries past wounds and emotions.
Here’s how to engage in inner child dialogue:
Visualize Your Younger Self: Picture yourself as a child, ideally at a specific age when you felt vulnerable or hurt.
Ask Questions: Sit down with this child and ask them what they are feeling. Listen without judgment, just as you would with a real child.
Offer Comfort: Once you identify the emotions or beliefs causing the block, reassure your inner child with affirming words like, "It's okay to feel this way. I'm here for you."
Journaling: Write a letter from your adult self to your inner child, expressing understanding and offering reassurance. This can be a transformative practice that fosters healing.
Here are some of our favorite journals:
Tired of reading? Listen to this podcast episode on Spotify.
3. Empowerment and Decision Making
After acknowledging your emotions and connecting with your inner child, it’s time to step into your Adult Chair® and make empowered decisions. This involves accessing your wisdom and taking action from a place of balance. Here are some tips to empower yourself:
Ask Yourself: "What do I need to move forward?" This question encourages self-reflection and helps you identify how to support yourself.
Set Intentions: Clearly state what you intend to achieve or how you wish to feel moving forward. For example, "I intend to approach this situation with confidence and calm."
Seek Support: Recognize when you need help, whether it’s reaching out to a trusted friend, connecting with a coach, or simply allowing yourself to rest. Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone.
Final Thoughts
By implementing these techniques, you can begin to address and overcome emotional blocks, leading to greater emotional freedom and personal growth. Remember, this journey is about embracing all parts of yourself and moving forward with compassion and strength. Stay curious and open as you navigate your emotions, and know that you are not alone in this process.
To learn more about processing emotions, check out this podcast episode on how to connect to your emotions to understand your needs.
Favorite Resources For Emotional Wellness for Midlife Women
Clarity & Connection examines how intense emotions accumulate in our subconscious and condition us to act and react in certain ways.
The Adult Chair: A Guide to Loving Yourself is a straightforward how-to guide on identifying what “chair” you are in emotionally so you learn to navigate and manage your feelings as an emotionally healthy adult.
Emotions Journal for Women is designed for women to track their daily feelings to help you enhance your emotional well-being, relieve anxiety, and improve mental health.
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