Emotional Sobriety
In many ways I’ve been preparing for this blog my entire adult life. This topic resonates deeply with me because I want happy relations with others and that includes effective communication, empathy, respect for boundaries, and genuine connection. The journey toward emotional sobriety continues to broaden my world. Let me start by giving a simple definition: emotional sobriety means having the confidence to be able to manage and navigate one's emotions in a balanced and healthy manner. It includes developing more self-awareness, heartfulness, and coping strategies when things don’t go my way. Maintaining emotional sobriety involves integrating emotional energy, whether positive or negative, without denying or suppressing it. It also means having resilience and practicing self-care to maintain stability in the face of life's ups and downs.
We all know that knee jerk, impulsive reactions are often very destructive to relationships and our emotional sobriety. Learning how not to react when we get triggered takes a long time for some of us. Rewiring these habitual reactions to make thoughtful responses takes a lot of practice and time. I would rather spend time reinforcing new awarenesses and adding new tools to my emotional took kit than regretting something I did or said that was simply not right or hurt someone needlessly.
Sometimes we feel bad for something we did or said, but mostly it’s not our fault! We absorbed a lot of disfunction and these reactions are just part of us. The way we move away from these patterns is by developing a deep awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This self-awareness allows us to recognize when we are falling into familiar patterns and empowers us to make conscious choices to break free from them. Through introspection, reflection, and intentional action, we can gradually replace old patterns with new, healthier ones that align with our values and goals. This process requires patience, persistence, and a commitment to personal growth, but the rewards of breaking free from limiting patterns are profound and transformative. By accepting our humanity and imperfections, we free ourselves from the burden of the past.
Afloat and Thriving
Learning appropriate self-care practices consistently over time plays a crucial role in preserving well-being and emotional sobriety. It took me some time to grasp the significance of self-care practices like sufficient rest, balanced nutrition, consistent exercise, and mindfulness techniques in boosting emotional resilience. In my youth, I was a feeling stuffer. When the pressure built, the energy was not always channeled in life-affirming ways. Eventually I was given the gift of desperation, which means I was ready to try something new. It was a slow process, but experimenting with self-care practices helped me to regulate my emotions more effectively and manage stressors with greater ease. By focusing on gratitude and making the decision to be happy, I became better able to navigate life's challenges without being overwhelmed by negative emotions. I use a multitude of self-care practices today, but my core contemplative practices are meditation, mindfulness and gratitude.
This foundation allows us to respond thoughtfully, rather than react impulsively, to difficult circumstances, fostering emotional stability. Practiced on a daily basis, these practices open us to a new dimension of life that was hidden before.
In the routine of our every day lives we start to see all sorts of things we could not have dreamt coming our way.
Engaging in activities that promote self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-acceptance enables us to gain a deeper understanding of our emotions and triggers, empowering us to respond in new ways. This heightened awareness supports us in making conscious choices that resonate with our values and aspirations, fostering emotional equilibrium and satisfaction. The link between self-care and emotional wellbeing underscores the significance of nurturing our holistic well-being to foster a strong and healthy emotional life.