Thursday, October 10, 2019

11 Absolute Truths About Emotions


  1.  Let's stop believing that emotions are a big bad word or an unpardonable sin.

  2.  Let's not ignore their reality or pretend that they don't exist.

  3.  Let's put an end to being afraid or shamed or daunted by their power.

  4.  Let's not keep shoving one after the other some place way down deep until they rise up unbidden and threaten to swallow us whole with out-of-control outbursts, terrifying anxiety, the heavy blanket of depression, or a wide range of life-altering addictive behaviors.

  5.  Let's not let our emotions call the shots, damage our relationships, or destroy our testimonies.

  6.  Let's pay attention as soon as our emotions come to call, and claim the time to look at these messengers that whisper the truth about what we're feeling.  And then choose right then and there to understand what the churning's all about.

  7.  Let's learn to make pro-active choices to thoughtfully respond in ways that tap into God's awesome power, show respect to others, and give grace and peace to ourselves.

  8.  Let's ask God to somehow redeem our emotions.

  9.  Let's stop saying, 'I'm angry.'  Because you are not your anger.

10.  Instead let's give ourselves full permission to calmly say, 'Right now I feel ...' whatever the emotion is.

11.  For we are not defined by our hurt, frustration, fear, sadness, disappointment, or whatever we happen to be feeling at that moment.  We are defined by our Savior. 
Linda


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42 comments:

  1. Oh, this is wonderful and true and something I'm going to share and save because I need these reminders of truth every day. Thank you for using your voice to bring truth to something many of us try to hide out of fear, shame, or the simple lack of understanding.

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    1. You're right, Debby, we all need reminders and encouragement to live well ...

      I hope you're enjoying your weekend, friend!

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  2. Long ago I learned emotion
    was a deep I could not brave,
    and so I stepped up from its ocean
    and walked upon the wave.
    I kept my heart so well-protected
    that it became an armoured keep
    and in its fastness I neglected
    food and love and sleep.
    I built the walls of humour high,
    and made them serve some bitter ends;
    I thought they could keep death at bay,
    but they too kept out my friends.
    If I could but find the gate...
    but I fear I've left it much too late.

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    1. It's never too late, friend. The gate awaits your touch. You are brave enough, I know.

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    1. It's always interesting as a writer to see what grabs a reader's heart. The comment section is my favorite part of blogging ...

      ;-}

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  4. Love this! Our emotions don't define us - "We are defined by our Savior." Amen and Amen!

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    1. Absolutely! Our salvation through Christ is the only definition we'll ever need ...

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  5. Yes, let's! Great propositions, Linda.

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  6. I love these insights, Linda. #6 and #11 are especially meaningful to me. To pay attention to our emotions and the truth they're telling us and to not let them define us. "We are defined by our Savior." AMEN! Thank you for these great reminders! Love and blessings to you!

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  7. Amen, Linda! We are defined by our Savior, not our emotions. Great advice for all of us, my friend.
    Blessings!

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  8. Love this list. Most of my life I struggled with emotions even calling them foolers and not to be trusted. Now I accept them as part of myself - good and not as good and know they are along for the ride, just not driving the bus! By the way, number 9 really spoke to me. Amazing when we listen to our language, how revealing it is. Thanks for such an insightful post.

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    1. Jean, I'm glad to spend a bit of Saturday with you. And I hear exactly what you're saying about #9.

      ;-)

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  9. i was looking for what turned out to be #5. we are emotional creatures but we should not be run by our emotions. Good list Linda.

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    1. Yeah, #5 is huge isn't it. It's often a slow fade to that unfortunate place ... and it's not all that easy to backtrack to where we know we should be.

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  10. I’ve been happily catching up on all of your recent posts. So many times I find myself nodding as I read. Your writing gets to the heart of our living experiences - grief, forgiveness, and the wide range of our emotions. Thank you for the blessing of you.

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    1. Oh I feel such a big hug of encouragement, Barbara. You always bring the sunshine ...

      ;-)

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  11. I love this, Linda. We can't choose how or what we feel, but we can choose how we respond to how we feel. I've not always responded in the healthiest of ways, but the good news is that those emotions keep coming, so I have plenty of chances to practice. :-) Hugs, friend!

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    1. Yep ... I hear you about those endless practice sessions, Lois.

      ;-)

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  12. Well Said, My Friend. I learned a LONG time ago, to always take a minute to consider before overreacting and spouting off.
    Blessings, My Friend!

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  13. Emotions can feel so consuming. But God is the only consuming fire that belongs in our lives. When I remember that I can step back and put my emotions in their place. They are not bad. But they are not God.

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    1. You've said it so well, Rebecca. God is the only consuming fire that belongs in our lives. Everything and everybody else needs to be returned to their rightful place.

      'Emotions are not God.'

      I'm so grateful ...

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  14. This is so good, Linda - full of wisdom! It makes a big difference when we can stop ignoring our emotions or letting ourselves be ruled by them, but learn to respond in a healthier way. This ties in well with the series of letters I am writing to my younger self just now. I would like to share a lot of your advice with her!

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    1. Don't you just love when you discover that while you were visiting a friend's site, she was visiting yours?

      Serendipitous.

      And yes, I wish I could package these 11 observations and send them back to myself half a century ago. Things would have been alot different ...

      * sigh *

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  15. I discovered Dr Dobson’s Emotionally Free book in the 70s. First time I ever saw an emotion described and how God can help me accept the emotions He created me with. My big problem was not knowing what a certain emotion was. If I was sad, I would just get depressed. If I was angry, I would try to control more. Now I can ask God “Why am I sad or angry?” Then we process it and use it as a guide, or an example of what not to do with emotions, like kick the dog. Heehee

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    1. You've tapped into the secret, my friend --> 'Now I can ask God “Why am I sad or angry?” Then we process it and use it as a guide.'

      Don't you love how He always leads us back to Himself for the answers we're yearning for? I guess the secret is in tuning much more into Him than to ourselves ... or all the voices clamoring for our attention.

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  16. Linda,
    As an HSP who often experiences very BIG emotions, I have had to learn to process them a little longer than most. Most of all, I don't want them to destroy my testimony or distract in any way from the Lord's work. Great truth you shared!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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    1. I really appreciate your observation that processing your emotions takes time, Bev. Most of us are in the same boat, I'm guessing.

      The point is that we're doing the work we need to do to stay in a healthy, Christ honoring place.

      Processing is not usually a quick 1-2-3 fix but rather, well, a process that unfolds.

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  17. Praise the Lord...I am not my emotions nor am I ruled by them (unless I choose to be). These are hard learned lessons...and ones I need to remind myself often. I am defined by the Savior - and amen to that!!

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    1. Jennifer, hi! I'm thinking that most of us don't realize that this needs to be a conscious choice. Sometimes we've lived for so long in an unhealthy default mode that we can't fully appreciate that there's a better way to respond to what's happening deep inside ...

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  18. I love this post Linda and you have hit the nail on the head concerning our emotions.
    It's taken me awhile to be able to look at my emotions in a healthy way and not stuff them into a closet. I thought that was what I should do then I would not hurt anyone, stuff, stuff, stuff till the closet got full and unloaded on someone. I don't stuff as much as I use to, but there are times my emotions need to be conquered and not stuff. to rise above them is to not let them own me. Great post.

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    1. You're so right, Betty, so many of us spent far too long stuffing our very real and valid emotions, much to our detriment. What we thought was a godly, healthy approach often backfired with sad results.

      We're all still learning to treat our emotions with care in ways that honor Christ, aren't we ...

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  19. You had me at stop believing our emotions are a big bad word. The saying our one pastor says is that emotions make poor drivers. Move over and let God drive.

    I like point #6. Pay attention as soon as my emotions come to call. Great post, my friend! Identity is in Christ and Christ only.

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    1. Paying attention to what's happening in and around us is always a helpful step, isn't it. Sticking our heads in the sand never works for too long ...

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