Feeling Is Healing
Have you ever, like me, been too lazy to take out the trash? So what do we do? We push the trash down to make more room in the trash can. But while this temporarily makes more room to add more, the trash at the bottom is still there. Eventually, it will still need to be taken out, unless you want terrible odors, an overflowing mess, or holes in the bag. Pushing the trash down is only a temporary fix to the problem.
That’s the same with thoughts and feelings. Temporarily, we can shove them down. As a matter of fact, sometimes we need to. However, at some point, they need to be addressed if we want to avoid even deeper long-term pain, such as negative physical symptoms, the inability to have healthy relationships, constant unexplainable stress, and difficulty regulating emotions.
God designed our brains to process our experiences both logically and emotionally. We need all parts balanced, in order to fully process our experiences in a healthy manner. A saying I have come to learn and say often, is that feeling is healing. Our feelings exist to help us process our experiences. They tell us what we need and alert us when important needs are and are not being met. So maybe it’s time to learn how to feel them in healthy ways; to learn how to listen to them and let them guide you to meeting the needs you have.
One Bible verse that can motivate us to do the hard work of processing our hard feelings and experiences is this:
”So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.“
We are never alone. Facing the hard things in life rather than avoiding them or dismissing them, helps us find greater access to God’s goodness and Grace which gives us hope in the midst of life’s messes. In order to be our healthiest selves as we work to live out that good purpose, we need to face the hard things and hard lessons we learn throughout the journey. This world is not perfect. God designed us with emotions that can help us process, learn from, and grow through all of life’s imperfections. If we don’t let ourselves feel, we miss out on the opportunity God offers us, to fully heal.
Feeling hard emotions is HARD. But suppressing them and carrying them around with us forever is so much HARDER. Are you ready to stop shoving your thoughts down inside your brain in the same way you push trash down in your trashcan? Maybe it’s time to learn how to process and cope with emotions in healthy ways. Will you give it a try?
With Love, Macy
Tools to Consider:
-A therapist can help support you in this journey. Find a therapist to meet your needs using Pyschology Today. If you live in Pennsylvania, and think I may be a good fit to meet your needs, you can view my profile here.
-This 6 Minute Diary on Amazon is incredibly practical and has helped me so much. It is called the 6 Minute Diary, because the goal is to spend 3 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes in the evening reflecting on the positive in each day. Just 6 minutes total! That’s doable for all of us. I personally use the weekly “notes” section to log other feelings, experiences, and prayers I have each week as well. It has been so beneficial to me, and I hope it will be for you, too, if you decide to try it!
- Get your thoughts out. Whether through a painting, drawing, a list, or several sentences or paragraphs of writing; you can process so much just by externalizing your thoughts. Talking with a trusted friend or person in your life about your feelings can be a good step as well.
Questions to Ask Yourself Today:
What is one way that I can intentionally try to be more present with my emotions this week? What are some coping tools that help me with big emotions? Who can I reach out to for help if this feels too overwhelming to take on by myself?
