Are You Holding On To Your Emotional Baggage
Are You Holding On To Your Emotional Baggage?
We all carry unprocessed emotional baggage. It has many faces. We take them around with us. They are stored in the remotest part of our brain, in the deepest chambers of our hearts.
We have them in our extensive database of memories. Some are so close to the heart, others bring out tears at the slightest provocation. Some may feel anger, with resentment, and may exhibit anti-social or antagonistic behavior.
Behaviors of Emotional Baggage
Shadows follow and haunt many, in their dreams or waking hours, in unlikely places, unexpected and intimidating. Uncontrollable anger that can lead to violence can explode without warning.
Others will live in denial and be disconnected from the real world. Some will find blame in everyone except themselves; it’s always the other person’s fault. What about victims and the victimizers? Many are lost searching for something, they can not identify.
Something is missing. A mass of lonely faces line the crowded streets, sit in public places, in schools, agonize through the day in the workplace, and gather at churches perhaps to seek solace.
The World We Live in here is what we often see…
Every day we see a vast sea of sad, depressed, and unfriendly faces. Our roads are open avenues to lash out their frustrations, thus uncontrollable road rage. This becomes scary.
Emotional baggage that is excessive demands a high price at times. Some succumb to the weight of this burden, it gets too much to bear.
They find no further reason to keep up the fight. Life loses its luster, they find the world cruel, their existence meaningless. To them, the fight over, if there ever was one. Many go through life like driftwood, let the current take them wherever it does not matter anymore.
This sounds so sad, and cruel, and, it is but there are methods for help, courage, and the will to fight against the current.
What Causes This Emotional Suffering?
Broken dreams, broken relationships, failed careers, lost hopes, betrayals, violations, childhood trauma, or other forms of trauma, add to these health issues.
Social disgrace, financial disasters, poverty, and addictions cast deep emotional scars on the most vulnerable members of the family and society.
Is our fast-paced society to blame? Add to this the pursuit of material success, endless toys, gadgets, and exponential advances in technology.
Fragile relationships, weakening family ties, and unreasonable expectations of self and others add to the already overstuffed emotional baggage. Some carry them for a long, long time.
How To Deal With Emotional Baggage and Feel More Like Living Life
Dealing with emotional baggage can be challenging, but it’s an important step towards emotional well-being and personal growth. Here are some strategies to help you manage and release emotional baggage:
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings:
- Recognize and accept your emotions instead of ignoring or suppressing them.
- Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal to better understand them.
2. Identify Triggers:
- Determine what situations, people, or environments trigger your emotional baggage.
- Reflect on past experiences that might be contributing to your current emotions.
3. Seek Professional Help:
- Consider talking to a therapist or counselor who can help you process your emotions and provide coping strategies.
- Therapy can offer a safe space to explore and address underlying issues.
4. Practice Self-Care:
- Engage in activities that promote relaxation and well-being, such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies you enjoy.
- Prioritize rest, nutrition, and physical health.
5. Build a Support System:
- Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who can provide emotional support and understanding.
- Share your feelings with trusted individuals who can offer different perspectives and advice.
6. Challenge Negative Thoughts:
- Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations and constructive thoughts.
- Focus on your strengths and achievements to build self-confidence.
7. Set Boundaries:
- Establish healthy boundaries to protect yourself from toxic relationships and situations.
- Learn to say no and prioritize your own needs and well-being.
- Do not let other people’s ideas, actions, and oppositions hinder you, on your journey to a better existence. If someone is trying to help you, that is different, however, do not let others discourage you with their opinions that are not warranted.
8. Practice Mindfulness:
- Engage in mindfulness exercises such as meditation and deep breathing to stay present and reduce stress.
- Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
9. Let Go of the Past:
- Work on forgiving yourself and others to release resentment and anger.
- Understand that holding onto past hurts only perpetuates emotional pain.
- You cannot re-live the past forever. Be it good or bad. You cannot undo something that was done inaccurately. You ask for forgiveness and move on.
- Set goals and take steps towards personal development and self-improvement.
- Embrace new experiences and challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Let your fear go and make sure that you rationalize your fears.
- Believe and value yourself. You have value in the world we live in. You are unique, you can do anything you want to with study, research, and determination.
11. Consider Creative Outlets:
- Express your emotions through creative activities such as writing, painting, music, or singing.
- Creativity can provide a healthy way to process and release emotions.
12. Stay Patient and Compassionate:
- Understand that healing is a process and takes time.
- Be kind to yourself and recognize that it’s okay to have setbacks.
- Pray for healing…not as a last resort, but from the beginning and it will help your efforts manifest quicker.
By taking the time to try incorporating these strategies into your life, you can gradually release emotional baggage and move towards a healthier, more balanced emotional state.
Summary
All is not lost, if we take a moment to listen to our deeper needs, beyond the physical. There is a flood of information, organizations, professionals, and other resources most communities offer.
Deep emotional suffering is a critical issue for many. There is more to life. It is time to rehabilitate and live your life with zest and feel the abundance of emotional well-being.
Note: As always it is paramount to consult your doctor to make sure that what you are endeavoring to accomplish is in line with healthy living and your current health status.
8 Common Pieces of Emotional Baggage– a very good read!
