What do you do when you feel emotionally weak? Do you have emotional survival skills to respond to emotional distress?
Have you ever consciously thought about your approach to facing trials?
As I was walking along the canal bank that runs along our farm, I observed the reaction of a duck and her ducklings as my dog raced towards them.
The mother, frantically flapped her wings and skimmed along the top of the water between the dog and her young. Meanwhile, the baby ducks took off at top speed, down the canal and then as if in unison, dived deep into the depths of the water.
I was surprised at how long they stayed under the water. In fact, I didn’t see them come back up. My dog stood for a while looking for them and then trotted on his way without looking back.
I thought to myself what an effective maneuver and survival technique for those ducks!
Nature had given them the instinct and survival tools to protect themselves. And it worked!
I thought of the survival tools we use as individuals and wondered if they are as effective for our well-being as the diving was for the ducklings.
Of course, not all survival techniques are equal.
Do you respond to distressing situations by
- shutting down emotionally
- pulling away from others
- blaming
- spinning thoughts out of control
- questioning your self-worth
- losing sleep
- being overly reactive and sensitive?
Listing these behaviors causes us to wonder why we would ever consider these as survival techniques. Yet how often do we resort to these patterns when we are struggling?
Are you willing to consider that there are effective survival techniques and behaviors that do work?
They aren’t as difficult as you may think, but they do require some effort and practice.
Consider the following:
- Breathing. Sounds too easy, yet proven to be powerful.
- Being still, shutting out the external noise and listening within.
- Caring for self, to re-fortify and strengthen.
- Focusing on truth.
- Allowing others to serve you.
These are only a few approaches that can help when in emotional distress.
My challenge to you today is to consciously think about what you do to survive emotionally difficult times. Look at what works and what doesn’t and be willing to make some needed changes.
As you choose to adopt more effective patterns of emotional response, you can then experience the confidence and joy that come with the greater emotional strength you have developed.
Sending you much love,
