They’re overwhelming, powerful and can hit like a tidal wave at times! They aren’t logical and let’s be honest, they can get us into trouble sometimes...yep, feelings! I’m not here to devalue or dismiss your feelings, I’d never do that and you shouldn’t let others do that either. I am here to say that while feelings are a very real and potent response to a situation, they are NOT FACTS.

Have you ever reacted to your feelings as if they were a fact? Have you ever regretted something you’ve said or done out of the impulse to follow your feelings? How’d that work out for you? Feelings are important, they give us feedback about life, situations, relationships and many times they help clarify the truth. Remember though, that feelings are not always facts. Ever say something in the moment that felt true but really wasn’t, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse?” Really? C’mon, really? See what I mean?

Feelings should always be honored, felt and respected. The people in our lives need to be responsive and loving in how they respond to your emotions. We all need to learn how to honor the sacredness of our emotional self. We also need to learn how to interact with and live with our feelings. Sometimes this means sitting with a feeling before responding to it! It might mean learning how to be mindful of the feelings and how you react and respond to them. I could mean tuning in to how your body reacts to an emotion to learn to manage it. Sometimes this means learning how to challenge and evaluate the ‘truth’ behind your feelings or the ‘facts’ behind your feelings.

This might seem difficult but it is possible. This might be part of where your therapeutic journey begins...