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Each month a new inspirational,
spiritual, or educational article by Alice McCall is posted.
If
you would like to read past articles,
please follow this link.
November 2009
Let it OUT!
When you were growing up were you taught to hold your feelings
in? Was wearing your emotions on your shirtsleeve frowned upon?
Did you establish this way of being yourself? Do you think
expressing your emotions means that you are rocking the boat, or
appear weak and foolish to those around you?
Releasing your
emotions is critical to your health and wellbeing. If you are sad go
ahead and cry. If you are frustrated or angry, put on your running
shoes and go for a run. If you are fearful, try journaling or pick
up the phone and talk about it with a friend.
Think about
the times you have allowed yourself to feel these things, I am sure
you have always felt better afterwards.
I find crying to be
one of the best emotional releases, if that is how an emotion is
surfacing. A study conducted in 1986 showed that crying was
considered an important means of releasing physiological tensions.
If they weren’t released, they would find another outlet, such as
affecting one’s body and possibly causing disease. Another study in
1981 suggested that the complex protein in emotional tears (versus
basal or reflex tears) is part of a human stress response. It was
proposed that tears perform a physical catharsis by expelling toxins
from your body.
In life people often try to steer others away
from crying – actually doing things to keep them from crying.
Interestingly enough, in therapy a psychologist often steers people
into crying to discover their emotional center and issues that need
to be tackled.
If you have stumbled upon a moment that brings
tears to your eyes, it’s a clear message that you are holding onto
something that needs to be healed and released.
In retreat
that I held with a colleague, we conducted a talking stick ceremony.
The talking stick, which was adorned with fur, beads and rawhide,
was passed from person to person as we sat in a circle. The rules
were simple: When you hold the stick you can only speak the truth.
And, you cannot determine what you are going to say until you have
the stick in your hand. It was an interesting and profound
experience. Many were surprised about what they said when the stick
was in their hands.
We all decided to do another round, and
something different happened. As each person was holding the talking
stick, an emotion bubbled near the surface. Many had tears in their
eyes or actually cried. Since we had established a safe environment,
it was freeing for everyone to express and release whatever they had
been holding within.
This experience also demonstrated a
wonderful thing. At the close of the retreat, everyone said they
identified with what others were saying and experiencing. The
consistent revelation was each person felt that they were not alone.
Allow yourself the freedom to shed those tears and release the
emotions that are locked inside you. It is the healthy choice, and
you will feel better too!
Contact Alice to learn how
she can help you master this topic - or transform other health,
emotion, and spiritual issues. Free consultations are offered
to
all new clients to learn how Alice's work is directly tailored to
address your areas of concern. Don't wait - step onto your Healing
Path today!
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