Sobriety & Empowerment: Taking Control of Your Emotions
It’s easy to let our feelings get the best of us in tense situations, especially when it seems like the other person is trying to discredit or invalidate our efforts or experiences.
These kinds of interactions are never pleasant, but they can be especially infuriating when they are initiated by those who have aided in our past suffering.
However, we should keep in mind that we are in charge of how we respond and should not allow other people to dictate how we feel.
It’s normal to feel frustrated or angry when things like this happen, but it’s crucial to put that emotion to good use.
Rather than letting our disappointments and frustrations consume us, we should use them to propel us forward and demonstrate our worth.
This is truer than ever on our road to health and sobriety.
It’s also worth noting that “emotion control” is not as straightforward as the phrase suggests.
Emotions, as shown by research, are important factors in both decision making and wellbeing.
When we repress or ignore our feelings, it can have detrimental effects on our lives, including increased stress and deteriorating mental health.
Learn to manage your feelings instead of trying to completely stifle them.
Mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy are two methods that fit this category.
Researchers have found that these methods actually work to help people feel better in general by enhancing their capacity to control their emotions.
The ability to manage your emotions is a crucial life skill that will help you prevail in trying circumstances.
Remembering that we are not alone in our difficulties and that it is acceptable to not have everything figured out is crucial.
Being human means making mistakes; this is a journey, after all.
We can continue to make progress, unencumbered by the opinions or words of others, if we have access to the resources we need.
I know it’s easy to get down on yourself when other people write off your efforts off as a “project” or something unimportant, but you have to keep in mind that you are the only one who can truly evaluate your growth and success.
Don’t let the views or actions of others deter you from achieving your goals.
Having a group of people who believe in you and encourage you is crucial, but so is remembering that you can define your own success and happiness and not let anyone else do it for you.
Written with love.
-Kohdi | BeyondSober.org | Sobriety Wiki
