Tag: trauma

Posted in Journal Writing

Keep a Sad or Worry Journal

Posted on by Lifestyle-by-designs

Creatively express your feelings (or lack thereof)

Create a unique artistic expression that reflects your most recent emotion. Engage in activities such as writing a song, doodling in a journal, painting a picture, or crafting a collage or Vision Board/Box. Explore different mediums to convey your feelings, even if you struggle to identify them. Embrace the use of dark colors like greys and blacks to add depth to your work of art. Afterward, reflect on your emotional state. Examine whether a sense of satisfaction or any other emotion arises within you. Document these experiences in a journal, exploring the nuances of your feelings and the impact of your artistic expression.

Take care of your inner child

To heal the emotional numbing that stems from childhood trauma, it’s crucial to care for your inner child. Engage in inner child work to find ways to comfort and nurture this vulnerable part of yourself. Consider creating empowering affirmations tailored to your inner child’s needs. For instance, when faced with challenging circumstances, repeat phrases like “It’s okay for me to feel,” “It’s safe for me to feel sad,” “My anger is valid,” and “Being vulnerable is being strong.” These affirmations can help your inner child access emotions and promote emotional growth.

Dedicate space and time to feeling

In our fast-paced lives, we often seek distractions from social media, television, shopping, food, social obligations, and other external sources. While these distractions can provide temporary relief, they can also hinder our ability to look inward. Unlike external distractions, introspection requires self-discipline, which is why many people avoid it. 

To conquer emotional numbness, dedicating time and space for self-reflection is crucial. Journaling has been an effective method for me, sometimes leading to creative outlets such as drawing, poetry, or songwriting. Revisiting my journal, I consistently observe progress, even if it’s gradual. The key is to maintain forward momentum in my emotional journey.

To strengthen self-discipline, dedicate time to exploring your inner self, especially identifying and understanding repressed emotions and their underlying causes. This step is crucial for personal growth and self-awareness.

To conclude your journaling session, consider incorporating uplifting elements to counteract negative emotions. This could involve reading positive news from sources such as the uplifting news subreddit, spending quality time with a loved one, engaging in playful activities with a pet, or selecting entertaining content from platforms like YouTube or Netflix. This practice will help balance your emotional state and promote a sense of well-being.

Peace & Harmony, Cheryl

Posted in Uncategorized

The Bonds of Trauma

Posted on by Lifestyle-by-designs

The Bonds of Trauma

In the grip of trauma bonds, invisible chains bind us to people and experiences that inflict wounds on our emotional and psychological well-being. These bonds, forged in the fire of intense emotions, prove challenging to sever, yet their release is pivotal in reclaiming our sense of identity and purpose.

The path to healing begins by acknowledging repetitive patterns that sustain unhealthy relationships and situations. It requires a deliberate choice to distance oneself from these connections and circumstances.

Initiating the journey to break free from trauma bonds necessitates a profound commitment to self-awareness and self-care. This process entails gaining a deeper understanding of the fears and insecurities that perpetuate cycles of trauma and consciously addressing them to overcome their hold on us.

Through meditation, journaling, and therapy, individuals can gain the tools necessary to navigate the intricate tapestry of emotions and cultivate a profound understanding of themselves. By tending to the inner landscape, we can bolster resilience and empower ourselves to make choices that align with our well-being.

As we embark on healing, fostering an environment conducive to personal growth and prosperity is vital. Encompassing ourselves with supportive individuals, seeking professional assistance when needed, and partaking in activities that ignite joy and fulfillment can significantly contribute to the recovery process.

Overcoming the bonds forged by trauma is not a solitary endeavor. It is a journey that requires seeking and accepting assistance. By doing so, we demonstrate our strength and resilience. With patience and self-compassion, we can transcend the shadows of our past and embrace a future filled with hope, steadiness, and purpose.

Peace & Harmony, Cheryl

Posted in Transformation

Places We Journey

Posted on by Lifestyle-by-designs

The Places We Journey

In life, most of us want stuff we’ve pictured in our heads. We got plans and ideas, some of them straight from the big guy upstairs, that we wanna see happen. We wanna be happy, successful, and healthy, which is all normal and human. So, when life throws us curveballs that we didn’t sign up for, it can feel like something went sideways or like we messed up somewhere along the way.

In real life, sometimes things happen that we don’t always understand. It’s like life has a plan for us, and these tough times are meant to help us grow and learn. It’s like life is saying, “Hey, wake up and pay attention! There’s something deeper going on here.” These challenges are meant to show us what we’re made of and make our lives more meaningful.

Often, it takes a big event to shake us up and make us realize that the ego isn’t really in control. Losing control can be humbling and help us see the bigger picture. It reminds us that there’s a lot we don’t know about the universe, and what we do know is just a tiny part of the big mystery we’re all a part of.

This mindfulness stuff makes us less tense and more easygoing because it helps us let go of our stubbornness and accept things as they are. Another cool thing about going through tough times is that we get to see all the old issues and emotional baggage that are blocking us from feeling happy. Happiness is always there inside us, whether things are going our way or not. Even when we’re feeling down, we can still believe that we can find happiness if we’re willing to accept the situation and work through it.

Picture this: you’re like a character from a fairy tale, lost in the middle of a gloomy forest, feeling scared and all alone. But here’s the thing, that journey through the dark woods, as gloomy as it may seem, has its unique beauty and depth. It’s like a transformative experience. When you come out on the other side, you’ll be a whole new person—lighter, brighter, bolder, and more confident for having faced that darkness.

Peace & Harmony, Cheryl