are you being triggered?

This pandemic in itself is challenging to deal with – all the fearful news reports, lifestyle changes, isolation, etc. But there is an added challenge, and that is what the situation is triggering in us. I’m referring to the old wounds, unresolved emotions that linger inside and get touched when certain situations occur. When these wounds get triggered, if we aren’t consciously aware of what is happening, our behavior can surprise even us. This explains a lot of what has been going on out there. It’s more important than ever to practice good self management and self care. This means immediately tending to any emotional disturbance or reaction. The faster you attend to it, the more quickly you will clear the energy and be able to see your way forward.
 
For example, I woke with a feeling of sadness the other day. As always, my first order of business is to make space for what is arising and be fully with it. As I breathed into the feeling, I had an image of myself as a child alone in my room. I had many illnesses as a child, so was often alone in my room in “sick bay”. Although I have met this old wound of abandonment many times and it is essentially healed, this current imposed isolation served to touch a remaining thread of the old pain. After being with it, applying love and compassion, the energy released and I was able to move forward.
 
That’s the other important point: we have been trained to move away from painful feelings, but that only keeps them in place. Moving away is the opposite of what heals; moving towards, pausing to feel what we’re feeling, is the way to emotional freedom.
 
Clues that we have unprocessed emotions include feelings of being stuck, triggered/reactive or emotionally unbalanced. These states are meant to be cues, not obstacles to overcome. If we respond to the cue, we will use it as an opportunity to pause, feel, inquire and thereby heal the underlying emotion. Your kind attention, your gentle presence is the healing agency. All you really need to do is make space for what is arising and shine the light of your awareness on the feeling. Use the steps below to guide you through a quick self care process that you can use anywhere, anytime.

Blessings and peace,
Karen