Can we talk about how the term catching feelings illicit the weirdest images in my head? For example, I see a man (always a man) running around the yard with a bucket in his hands waiting for butterflies to fall from the sky. What is "catching" feelings? How does one catch them? Isn't it more of a choice? It's just biology.
Can we also talk about how distraction disguised as self-care is not really caring for oneself at all? It is self-sabotage though. Distractions don't make us feel better because we're not identifying what our body/mind/soul really needs.
Case in point - after a particularly stressful encounter at work, I really wanted to disconnect for a few moments and escape. My go-to was to play on my phone and absentmindedly scroll. Instead (pretty proud of this one) I stopped and asked myself some questions...what are you feeling? what was the most challenging part of it? are you ok? do you feel safe? what do you need right now?
Believe it or not, I actively reflected on the experience and how I was feeling rather than avoiding thinking through it. It helped put into perspective my own thoughts and beliefs about what had just happened. Not once did I think I could have done something better and not once during the remainder of the day did I question my choices. For once, I didn't let it get the best of me or let it control the day.
The real test is continuing this practice on days I'm more unaware of my stress levels. Challenging myself with questions related to self-care isn't easy especially when I feel or think things are going well. Why even ask then? Because there's always a feeling brewing under the surface and I like a good challenge.
Weekly report:
Wk 8: 23 additional pages
I would like to clarify though - 23 pages isn't very accurate as the manuscript now includes many pages of feedback from last week's chair review. The font is 9; alas, it does contribute to the high page count addition.
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I ask you -
What term(s) do you use to describe when someone is developing feelings?
What is your go-to distraction method?
Tell me your thoughts on emotional analysis! Perhaps a bit tricky.
(The post Bucket o' Butterflies first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
© 2024 Running on Fumes
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