The last of human freedoms- the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances. Victor Frankl
I find that internal exploration is the precursor to taking action. when I'm experiencing strong emotion, be it joy, sadness, anger, surprise....these are times that I can tune in to what is happening and what is triggering the emotion. My daughter just graduated from high school. I found myself feeling like I'm carrying a heavy weight around my neck. This is my youngest. She's healthy, happy, positive and excited about the upcoming phase in her life. ok, so empty nest syndrome is the natural response I guess. But I don't think that's it. So I sit in my sadness. This is something new for me. letting the feeling of the moment wash over me. I have learned that by allowing my feelings free reign, I am able to move through them more easily, more gracefully and with understanding. and then I can release them and move on.
So the questions I ask myself are:
what happened? my daughter graduated from high school.
what interpretation do I attach to this event? she's all grown up and doesn't need me anymore.
what emotion results? sadness, a little fear, pride in her
what is my action response to this emotion? I get a little overprotective, pick fights, or try to be a cool mom
If I decide that the way I'm responding isn't strengthening me, giving me joy or moving me forward, I can choose something else.
what happened? my daughter graduated from high school.
what interpretation do I attach to this event? she is an amazing young woman and I had something to do with that.
what emotion results? tremendous pride, joy in who she is, mixed with a little sadness
what is my action response to this emotion? I celebrate with her. I offer her my thoughts as one of the wise women in her life and then I clean my house (:))
The beauty of life is that we can choose how we respond to situations. It's not always easy to shift ways of thinking, but it is empowering to know that we create our reality.
In joy and in peace,
brenda
I find that internal exploration is the precursor to taking action. when I'm experiencing strong emotion, be it joy, sadness, anger, surprise....these are times that I can tune in to what is happening and what is triggering the emotion. My daughter just graduated from high school. I found myself feeling like I'm carrying a heavy weight around my neck. This is my youngest. She's healthy, happy, positive and excited about the upcoming phase in her life. ok, so empty nest syndrome is the natural response I guess. But I don't think that's it. So I sit in my sadness. This is something new for me. letting the feeling of the moment wash over me. I have learned that by allowing my feelings free reign, I am able to move through them more easily, more gracefully and with understanding. and then I can release them and move on.
So the questions I ask myself are:
what happened? my daughter graduated from high school.
what interpretation do I attach to this event? she's all grown up and doesn't need me anymore.
what emotion results? sadness, a little fear, pride in her
what is my action response to this emotion? I get a little overprotective, pick fights, or try to be a cool mom
If I decide that the way I'm responding isn't strengthening me, giving me joy or moving me forward, I can choose something else.
what happened? my daughter graduated from high school.
what interpretation do I attach to this event? she is an amazing young woman and I had something to do with that.
what emotion results? tremendous pride, joy in who she is, mixed with a little sadness
what is my action response to this emotion? I celebrate with her. I offer her my thoughts as one of the wise women in her life and then I clean my house (:))
The beauty of life is that we can choose how we respond to situations. It's not always easy to shift ways of thinking, but it is empowering to know that we create our reality.
In joy and in peace,
brenda
