By Mary Ann Borders | January 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM EST | No Comments
Here are a few questions to get you started talking about your feelings:
1. When do you feel happy? 2. When have you felt sad? 3. When do you feel excited? 4. When do you feel scared? 5. When do you feel loved? 6. When have you felt angry?
Understanding and articulating when you feel these basic emotions helps you to stay connected with what is going on inside you. If we are not connected within we tend to blame without.
By Mary Ann Borders | January 06, 2012 at 01:09 PM EST | No Comments
Who amongst us if given the opportunity would not want to empower a child to prevent addiction, improve their self confidence and build happy effective relationships? Feeling Blocks® helps you identify your feelings so that you do not have the need to "stuff" with substance and behavior.
Once we learn to be honest with ourselves about our feelings, we can begin to directly express ourselves to others. By learning to express ourselves directly, we prevent misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and resentment from cropping up in our relationships. We also learn to communicate with others in healthy and productive ways. It is never too late to start working on ourselves and our behaviors. Use of the Feeling Blocks helps you to identify and communicate your feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | January 05, 2012 at 05:58 PM EST | No Comments
Regular use of The Feeling Blocks is a vehicle to peace by helping you to identify and articulate how you feel and stay in the present moment.
Often we look at the outside world and find it in a state of seeming chaos or disorder. We feel compelled to transform the situation from one of turmoil into one of peace, yet we are often disappointed in our best attempts to do so. One reason for this is that we cannot bring to the world what we do not have to offer. Peace starts in our own minds and hearts, not outside of ourselves, and until its roots are firmly entrenched in our own selves, we cannot manifest it externally. Once we have found it within, we can share it with our family, our community, and the whole wide world. Some of us may already be doing just that, but for most of us, the first step is looking within and honestly evaluating the state of our own relationship to peacefulness.
Interestingly, people who manifest peace internally are not different from us; they have chattering thoughts and troubled emotions like we all do. The difference is that they do not lend their energy to them, so those thoughts and feelings can simply rise and fall like the waves of the ocean without disturbing the deeper waters of peacefulness within. We all have this ability to choose how we distribute our energy, and practice enables us to grow increasingly more serene as we choose the vibration of peace over the vibration of conflict. We begin to see our thoughts and feelings as tiny objects on the surface of our being that pose no threat to the deep interior stillness that is the source of peacefulness.
When we find that we are able to locate ourselves more and more in the deeper waters and less on the tumultuous surface of our being, we have discovered a lasting relationship with peace that will enable us to inspire peace beyond ourselves. Until then, we help the world most by practicing the art of choosing peace within.
By Mary Ann Borders | January 04, 2012 at 06:54 PM EST | No Comments
2012 is the year of expressing our feelings not our thoughts. To manifest our dreams we must stop telling our stories and listen to our inner guidance of feelings. Feeling Blocks® helps us to identify and articulate, by holding our feelings in our hands as we clear the way for focused intention which leads to manifestation. Be on the leading edge! Buy your set of Feeling Blocks® today because "EQ is more important than IQ"™
My guidance is telling me that while Feeling Blocks® are great for raising healthy children....they were given to me, to help adults learn to use their feelings with knowing to manifest their dreams.
By Mary Ann Borders | November 18, 2011 at 12:04 PM EST | No Comments
"Developing self-esteem requires an act of revolution, or several mini-revolutions, in which we begin to separate from group thought and establish our own sense of authority. We may suddenly; realize we hold an opinion different from our family or our peers, but in either case we will have difficulty freeing ourselves from the group's energy, whose strength depends upon numbers and opposition to most expressions of individuality The act of finding our own voice, even in mini-revolutions, is spiritually significant. Spiritual maturity is measured not by the sophistication of a person's opinions, but by their genuineness . s and the courage necessary to express and maintain them. By courage, I do not mean the intractable stubbornness of two people locking horns, Spiritual maturity in contrast, is the capacity to stand one's ground as a reflection of a genuine inner belief."
- Caroline Myss, is a best-selling author and speaker
By Mary Ann Borders | November 11, 2011 at 10:54 PM EST | No Comments
Name It and Claim It
Whatever the nature of your feelings, carefully define the reaction taking place within you.
Our feelings can sometimes present a very challenging aspect of our lives. We experience intense emotions without understanding precisely why and consequently find it difficult to identify the solutions that will soothe our distressed minds and hearts. Yet it is only when we are capable of naming our feelings that we can tame them by finding an appropriate resolution. We retake control of our personal power by becoming courageous enough to articulate, out loud and concisely, the essence of our emotions. Our assuming ownership of the challenges before us in this way empowers us to shift from one emotional state to another—we can let go of pain and upset because we have defined it, examined the effect it had on our lives, and then exerted our authority over it by making it our own. By naming our feelings, we claim the right to divest ourselves of them at will.
As you prepare to acknowledge your feelings aloud, gently remind yourself that being specific is an important part of exercising control. Whatever the nature of your feelings, carefully define the reaction taking place within you. If you are afraid of a situation or intimidated by an individual, try not to mince words while giving voice to your anxiety. The precision with which you express yourself is indicative of your overall willingness to stare your feelings in the face without flinching. Naming and claiming cannot always work in the vacuum of the soul. There may be times in which you will find the release you desire only by admitting your feelings before others. When this is the case, your ability to outline your feelings explicitly can help you ask for the support, aid, or guidance you need without becoming mired in the feelings that led you to make such an admission in the first place.
When you have moved past the apprehension associated with expressing your distressing feelings out loud, you may be surprised to discover that you feel liberated and lightened. This is because the act of making a clear connection between your circumstances and your feelings unravels the mystery that previously kept you from being in complete control of your emotional state. To give voice to your feelings, you must necessarily let them go. In the process, you naturally relax and rediscover your emotional equilibrium.
By Mary Ann Borders | October 09, 2011 at 10:31 PM EDT | No Comments
Caren Stiffel, M.A. Autism Special Day Class Teacher
I love the Feeling Blocks!! I keep them in a basket accessible to the students - sometimes they just like to squeeze them for the tactile experience. One of my favorite activities is playing "Feelings Toss" - the kids sit at their desks and toss the block to a classmate - they have to make faces or say what the feeling is....It's a great way to get kids with autism who don't normally have joint emotional experiences to talk about their feelings...Some of the more verbal, higher functioning students like to explore all of the different words to describe feelings. What is great about the blocks is they can be experienced at so many levels - from the simplest to much more complex....I have used them with kids from pre-school age to my current middle school class. Thank you so much, Mary Ann, for this wonderful educational tool.
By Mary Ann Borders | September 19, 2011 at 07:56 PM EDT | No Comments
You can find yourself feeling out of control when you blame others for your fear based thoughts. However, if you take control of your own feelings and you think an improved thought because it feels better, you will discover that no matter how the fear based cycle got started, you can turn it around. You have no control of what anyone else is doing, but you have complete control over your own thoughts and feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | August 18, 2011 at 09:53 AM EDT | No Comments
Once we learn to be honest with ourselves about our feelings, we can begin to directly express ourselves to others. By learning to express ourselves directly, we prevent misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and resentment from cropping up in our relationships. We also learn to communicate with others in healthy and productive ways. It is never too late to start working on ourselves and our behaviors, just take it one day at a time. Feeling Blocks helps you to identify and communicate your feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | August 15, 2011 at 10:59 AM EDT | No Comments
We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.
The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.
With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.
By Mary Ann Borders | August 04, 2011 at 12:53 AM EDT | No Comments
When children are brought to a therapist's office, they often feel confused and/or that they've done something wrong. For children to be successful in understanding their feelings in the situation that brought them to therapy, they need help identifying their feelings. We start with "mad, sad, glad, and scared" and then expand from there. Many children are pre-verbal or have difficulty expressing themselves. So we need props! We need to show them the way to understanding!
The Feeling Blocks are the best prop I've found in 30 years working with children. We throw them, playing and naming feelings as we play. That...puts the "FUN" in Functional!
A Selective Mutism 4 year old patient could not talk to me but the Blocks got her to understand herself in her "scarey" world of preschool and adults. Her smile was the first step to healing.
A family of 3 kids were tossing them back and forth, naming the worst and the best feelings in their family...as the parents contemplated divorce...something they could control was the expression of their feelings through the blocks...they eventually could even identify how they felt out of control regarding the divorce. Once this insight was gleaned, the sibling fights diminished and you could visibly see their love and closeness.
With a 7 year old profoundly gifted girl, she started with a simple expression of feelings then loved going to the most difficult level of feelings, using the blocks as a vocabulary lesson. At which point she said to me: "you know, animals have lifetime laryngitis." I asked: "What do you mean?". She replied: "They will never be able to talk; but I can say all these big words about my feelings!"
By Mary Ann Borders | July 23, 2011 at 04:32 PM EDT | No Comments
It has been my experience that most of my problems have stemmed from an inability to properly express my feelings. I have always recognized a correlation of experiences, repeating themselves and having the same adverse effect and interestingly the same lessons to learn. The uncomfortable experiences continue with different people playing the same roles until I learn the lesson. At the root of these experiences my common thread seems to be, feeling misunderstood, judged, unjustly accused, unloved and abandoned. In the past, I have used a multitude of ways to distract myself from feeling my feelings by overeating, drinking, spending, over scheduling, over committing, working, care taking, gossiping, watching tv, going online, etc. to numb the pain. The simple, yet sometimes seemingly difficult answer has always proven to be, when I share my feelings in a nonjudgemental way, the feelings dissipate and I no longer have a need to indulge in what I consider numbing addictions, defining addiction as an unhealthy habit that takes me further away from myself. By using the feeling blocks, I have learned to express my feelings in constructive ways. Now, when one of those familiar experiences happen and those old feelings are triggered, instead of going outward to numb, I grab my feeling blocks, I find the feelings that are present and either express them to someone, write about them or simple reflect.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 22, 2011 at 03:49 PM EDT | No Comments
Feeling Blocks are for children of all ages...which includes adults. The majority of us are just big kids who were never taught nor given permission to express ourselves in a self honoring way. Learning to communicate feelings is something we didn't learn in school and in most cases didn't learn at home either. When you are able to identify, understand, put a voice to and express your feelings, you begin to understand yourself, your relationships and your world better.
The use of Feeling Blocks and "I feel" statements helps you to recognize what you are feeling. In that process we learn how to effectively take care of ourselves, set boundaries and express what we are feeling to free up the space to really enjoy who we are.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 22, 2011 at 02:43 PM EDT | No Comments
Many people are taught from a young age to suppress feelings commonly regarded as negative, such as anger, resentment, fear, and sorrow. Those who cannot or will not express these emotions tend to engage in passive-aggressive behaviors that provide them with a means of redirecting their feelings. Feeling Blocks helps you identify your feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 20, 2011 at 12:13 PM EDT | No Comments
Ten-year-old boys are not known for being great communicators. When my son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome last year, I despaired of being able to effectively communicate with him as we worked through issues of understanding and adjusting to his special needs. As the mother of a special needs child, I experienced emotional highs and lows with my son, and felt a lot of frustration and guilt on my part for not being able to understand what he was going through or what he was feeling. He also was frustrated in trying to communicate with me and with his therapist, unable to find the right words or phrasing or context to convey his heart.
With Feeling Blocks, I experienced the joy of being able to break through those barriers and find a way for both of us to work together to discover together what we both were feeling.
I will never forget that moment as we sat down for the first time with the Feeling Blocks. My son had experienced a particularly frustrating day at school and was resistant to letting me know how he felt. In reality, he didn’t know how to communicate his feelings. As we sat down with the blocks, he suddenly started turning them over and over, pointing to the words that helped him let me know what was in his heart, and helped me understand where his feelings were coming from. The relief of just knowing, finally, was immense. We continue to use them to this day to help us break through when either of us feel stuck. I am so grateful to Feeling Blocks for providing this valuable tool for helping my son and my family to grow closer, communicate more effectively and understand how we can help each other to move forward.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 15, 2011 at 02:00 AM EDT | No Comments
"Thank you so much for your wonderful Feeling Blocks. One of my little 3 1/2 year old clients actually asked for them! Her mom had told her they were coming to me to talk about her feelings, and I introduced the basic one to her right away, perfect for her tender age. The following week we played with other toys, but she told her mom disappointedly afterwards that we didn't talk about feelings cause I didn't bring out the "blocks". Trust me, the next week I made sure the Feeling Blocks were out! I hope all therapists get to experience the Feeling Blocks."
Charlotte Reznick PhD
Author of The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success
By Mary Ann Borders | July 13, 2011 at 10:37 AM EDT | No Comments
Good parenting requires more than intellect. It touches a dimension of the personality that's been ignored in much of the advice dispensed to parents over the past thirty years. Good parenting involves emotion. In the last decade or so, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 11, 2011 at 02:38 PM EDT | No Comments
An outside source cannot instill SELF confidence however love is the key to an ideal environment to grow and learn. I also believe, at any age, anyone can make the leap from lack to abundance in all areas including self esteem.
True self confidence comes from loving the self and that is an inside job. Unfortunately there is not a "loving yourself 101" taught in schools and often, also, not taught at home. I believe that understanding how you feel, making "I" statements like "I feel ___ when___", helps you better understand yourself, allows you to make better choices, helps you to understand what feelings belong to you and what feelings belong to others, how to understand projection and more. When we know how to operate our machinery the less likely to have an accident. I believe that knowing how we feel is an insurance policy that compounds interest on a regular basis.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 10, 2011 at 12:50 PM EDT | No Comments
Reflecting on feelings can help us make the right decisions. When we begin to feel overwhelmed or confused by the decisions facing us, we can benefit from taking time to explore our feelings. We always know what is best for us. We just have to stop and listen to our inner guidance. We are then able to recognize lucrative opportunities, feel more confident about making choices, and choose the actions that will bring a greater level of fulfillment into our lives. Examine your feelings and gain more clarity by going to www.feelingblocks.com and check out the Feeling Vocabulary tab and see how you are feeling today.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 07, 2011 at 12:12 PM EDT | No Comments
Why do some people always seem to succeed at work, while others of equal -- or higher -- intelligence don't? Is it luck? Looks? Nepotism? More than likely it's the emotional intelligence factor. Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is a set of abilities that lets you form optimal relationships with yourself and others. And research shows it can be a far better predictor of life success than IQ. "In the fields I have studied, emotional intelligence is much more powerful than IQ in determining who emerges as a leader," says William Bennis, an internationally renowned author and leadership expert. "IQ is a threshold competence. It might get you into a certain field, but it doesn't make you a star. Emotional intelligence can." In his book "Working with Emotional Intelligence," Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and CEO of Emotional Intelligence Services, contends that among the pool of people smart enough to handle the most cognitively demanding fields, IQ has the least power in predicting success. The higher the intelligence barriers for entry into a field, the greater the impact emotional intelligence has on success. Portland, Oregon-based human resources expert Lori Kocon says she has seen this phenomenon play out repeatedly -- especially over the past four years. "During the '80s and '90s an unprecedented number of people went on to get MBAs and postgraduate degrees," she says. "While in the past, this helped them advance in their careers, today with so many people having the same high levels of knowledge and technical expertise, this route has reached maximum effectiveness. "What sets people apart now are their abilities to manage themselves and develop productive relationships with others. It all boils down to being emotionally intelligent." At its simplest, emotional intelligence encompasses five competencies:
1. Self-awareness: Recognizing your emotions and their effects; knowing your strengths and limitations; and having a strong sense of your capabilities and self-worth.
2. Self-regulation: Managing your moods by keeping disruptive emotions and impulses in check; and channeling your feelings and resources to enhance your performance and productivity.
3. Self-motivation: Knowing how to use your emotions to propel yourself into action toward a desired goal and to persevere despite obstacles and setbacks.
4. Empathy: Your ability to sense others' feelings and perspectives; read and understand the dynamics of relationships; and anticipate, recognize and meet key constituents' needs.
5. Social skills: Your adeptness at inducing desirable responses in others through communication, collaboration, influence and relationship-building.
"In the new workplace, with its emphasis on flexibility, teams and a strong customer orientation, this crucial set of emotional competencies is becoming increasingly essential for excellence in every job in every part of the world," Goleman says Unlike IQ, which is pretty much established at birth, EQ can be learned, implemented and improved upon at any age. In fact, studies show our emotional intelligence increases as we get older -- peaking between 50 and 59. What's the best way to raise your EQ, short of hiring a personal coach? Psychologist Dr. Hendrie Weisinger, author of "Emotional Intelligence at Work" and "The Emotionally Intelligent Financial Advisor," advocates increasing your self-awareness. He advises taking a reading of your emotions several times throughout the day and keeping a journal. After a week, access what you're feeling, how you're channeling your feelings and how it affects your workday. If you're sending yourself negative messages, plant positive ones in their place. For example, if you find you're telling yourself "I'm stupid" after making a mistake, replace that message with "What can I do differently next time?" It also helps to have an EQ role model. Identify people you know who excel as individuals and also maximize a team's potential through building bonds, collaboration and creating group synergy in pursuit of collective goals. Watch how they sell their ideas, handle criticism from others, and deal with setbacks. Then apply those skills in your own life and see what a difference it makes!
By Mary Ann Borders | July 04, 2011 at 01:29 PM EDT | No Comments
I believe that self confidence and self esteem can be taught. In my life the more I am able to understand my own personal feelings on any particular subject and am able to communicate those feelings, the more secure I become with myself. It's all about understanding who you are and finding peace, security and solace in your own personal knowing.
I believe we are responsible for creating our experience and if by chance we are not then, we are truly a victim of our reality and environment. I created Feeling Blocks a communication tool to help my children many years ago to learn to express their feelings and speak their truth. Glorious Independence Day, on a multitude of levels...to all!
By Mary Ann Borders | July 03, 2011 at 12:58 PM EDT | No Comments
Be specific rather than general about how you feel. Feeling words such as bad is too vague...What kind of bad? (irritated, mad, anxious, afraid, sad, hurt, lonely, etc.).
Specify the degree of the feelings, and you will reduce the chances of then feeling misunderstood. For example, some people may think when you say, "I feel angry" means you are extremely angry when you actually mean a little irritated.
When expressing anger or irritation, first say how you feel and then describe the specific behavior that triggered the feeling. Understand that another persons behavior may seem to be the reason you are feeling what you are feeling but it is only the catalyst to dissatisfaction in you and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about yourself.
Perhaps say, I understand that my feelings are my own and you are not responsible however I am not clear as to why I feel the way I do...and then ask if they are willing to help you explore your feelings in reference to their behavior.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 02, 2011 at 11:57 AM EDT | No Comments
Negative feelings are your indicator of resistance, while positive feelings are your indicator of allowance. Feeling Blocks helps you to determine what you are feeling. The sun is shining, the birds are singing...it's a beautiful day! Don't let negative feelings invade an otherwise positive experience. Ask yourself why you are feeling, sad, angry or scared and share those feelings with a trusted one or write them down for self reflection and in that process understand that feelings are just a barometer to understanding where we are at the moment. We have the free human will to make a decision to let go or hold onto a less than positive experience.
By Mary Ann Borders | July 01, 2011 at 06:43 PM EDT | No Comments
Blocks to Expressing Feeling
When it comes to expressing feelings many people have a difficult time. However, effective communication, including appropriate ways to expressing feelings, fosters intimacy with others and can help build a strong sense of self. When we lack the skills or knowlege to effectively express our feelings we can create "blocks" which can hurt or hinder how we relate to others. These "blocks" can create the opposite effect of intimacy, which can lead to a variety of problems in our relationships. The following illustrate 10 blocks to expressing feelings effectively:
Mind reading. You expect others to know how you feel and what you want without taking responsibility for expressing yourself directly.
Fear. Your fear of rejection and disapproval is so great that you abandon yourself and swallow your feelings.
Conflict avoidant. You avoid conflict or uncomfortable feelings at all costs.
Passive-aggressive. Instead of sharing your feelings openly and honestly, you use covert tactics to communicate your displeasure.
Hopelessness. You believe the situation will never change so why try? This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Martyrdom. You don't want to admit your feelings because you don't want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing they've upset you. You suffer silently with great pride.
Low self-esteem. You believe that you don't have a right to express your feelings or to ask others for what you want. At the expense of self, you focus on pleasing others instead.
Feeling defective. You believe that you shouldn't have irrational feelings like anger, jealousy, anxiety, depression, as that would indicate that you are flawed or "un-together."
Volcano. You believe once you start expressing your feelings the hot lava will begin to flow and no one will be able to stop it! All will be destroyed.
Miranda Warning. You don't want to express your feelings because you are afraid they will be used against you.
Feeling Blocks help you to identify and communicate your feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | June 30, 2011 at 10:55 AM EDT | No Comments
A talent for dealing with people tops the list of important business skills, according to Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. “It’s not IQ that leads to success,” he said. “EQ is more important: emotional intelligence, social skills, how you relate, can you get things done. That’s what makes a difference.
Feeling Blocks...because EQ IS more important that IQ
By Mary Ann Borders | June 29, 2011 at 09:56 AM EDT | No Comments
Everyone has feelings, most don't know how to express them in a constructive way! Feeling Blocks promote clear communication without blame. Feeling is our personal barometer...it's empowering and fun when you know how to read it! Feelings are also your indicator of resistance, while positive feelings are your indicator of allowance. Feeling Blocks helps you to determine what you are feeling. Using I statements for example, "I feel _____ when ____" allows you to take ownership of your feelings and others to hear how you are feeling without blame.
By Mary Ann Borders | June 28, 2011 at 12:38 PM EDT | No Comments
I found Mastin's expression about feelings useful .. .take a look and let me know if it resonates with you in any way.
The importance of expressing your feelings...by Mastin Kipp
Most human problems are created by our inability to properly feel and express our feelings. Example: addiction. An addiction from my point of view is a way of distracting yourself from yourself. So, instead of feeling your feelings you're: eating, drinking, working, sexing, drugging, being violent, etc. Addicts from my experience and point of view are not just homeless bums on the street looking for drugs and alcohol. Addicts are people who run from their feelings and suppress them in unhealthy ways. I'm not a psychotherapist or doctor. This is a definition I've come to through my own experience with addiction. Another way to think of it is this: an addiction is an unhealthy habit that takes you further away from your Soul and the presence of The Uni-verse in your life. My life's aim has been to, one day at a time, replace unhealthy addictions for healthy habits. I've found the root of my success has been my ability to feel and express my feelings in constructive ways. Now, most of the time, when I feel a negative feeling, an impulse to consume, chase or fill up a void inside me, instead of going outward, I go within. I stop, focus on my breath and let my feelings come up. Then I write them down, or get creative and write a poem, draw or exercise. I just channel the energy differently. And what happens is that instead of keeping them down and needing to cover them up (my favorite way to cover up my emotions is with sugar), I have space and distance from my emotions. Day by day I begin to understand the negative thoughts, beliefs and emotions that trigger my "addictions" and instead of letting them rule my life, I see them just as thoughts. Then, the more distance I get from these thoughts, the greater my ability is to choose a new thought and new action that is healthy, constructive and going towards making my dreams come true. Consider getting brave enough to get quiet, meditate on your breath and FEEL your feelings. Then, once they come up, embrace them and give them expression in the written word. Don't judge or think about your feelings, just let them flow. Once they are out and on paper you will have a different relationship with them - one where you are a little more in control than you were a moment before. There is nothing fancy about this exercise, it just takes a little courage to peek beneath to surface and see what's there. And remember, as Joseph Campbell says, "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek."
Most people do not understand the importance of expressing your feelings...Feeling Blocks help you to identify and communicate your feelings.
By Mary Ann Borders | June 27, 2011 at 05:18 PM EDT | No Comments
"Our feelings are a natural response to our thoughts and intentions. We don't really choose our feelings directly. Our feelings are a feedback mechanism. They indicate whether we are moving into alignment with our true desires (possitive feelings) or out of alignment (negative feelings)". Feeling Blocks helps you to identify and communicate your feelings.
