Ep. 229- I can only feel and process one emotion at a time [Myths About Emotions Series]

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Fourth Myth in this Emotions Series is about this idea that we can only feel and process one emotion at a time. 

You can feel and process more than one emotion at a time. 

Think about the analogy of the beach ball. If the beach ball is your emotions, and you're trying to hold one under water- it makes sense that the idea of holding two under water can feel overwhelming and impossible. 

This is what we think it is to 'process' emotions. 

However processing emotions isn't exhausting. 

Processing emotions gives us the ability to move around life with more expansion. It's like having the beach ball float on top of the water, with many other balls at the same time. 

So how?  

1. First recognize the story you have around feeling emotions

We all have stories around feeling emotions. What is yours? Recognize it. Is it that if you feel your emotions it will take over? Or is the story around emotions that you might react to it if you feel it? Notice what that story is. Validate it.

2. Recognize if the emotions you're experiencing 

Don't worry about where it's coming from- just check in and tell yourself the emotion you're currently experiencing.  

3. Use the CALM Method to feel that emotion

Learning to use the CALM method will help you to see that emotions don't take over when we allow them. They actually create more trust and control when we CALM those emotions. Listen to last weeks podcast to learn more. 

4. Then choose on purpose the emotion you WANT to feel with applying AND

When we open up to one emotion with the CALM, it makes space now to add any other emotion we might like to feel. Basically it looks like this: "I'm feeling anxiety AND I am choosing to feel present". It makes space for both. 

Practice doing this MORE and use AND in your emotion work and life.