A blog of lessons for life

As much as we all strive for a life filled with happiness and excitement, life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Hearts get broken, unpleasant events occur, and disappointments happen. We’ve all felt pain, shame, and sadness – it’s a fundamental part of being alive. But as adults and professionals, we’ve engrained the notion that we must suppress these negative emotions. On the other hand, trapping emotions may have been taught at an early age. The Problem with Trapping Your Emotions Initially, you might seem fine on the surface when you bury your feelings. Then over time those negative emotions, such as betrayal, anger, and fear bottle up and affect us in various ways. Trapping our emotions can lead to: Sabotaging Relationships If you’ve suppressed the trauma from a previous relationship, you may carry the same doubt and fear to your next partner. Anxiety and stress Trapped emotions lead to constant fear and anxiousness even when there might not be anything alarming. A common trait of emotional repression is sometimes being unable to understand why you’re stressed. Unable to move on Burying our emotions means we can never truly come to terms with them. As a result, our minds cling to our past. The Benefits of Emotional Release The ability to validate and express our negative emotions in a healthy way, allows us to handle challenges better. Everyone experiences highs and lows. But how we process and navigate through those negative experiences and emotions, is what ultimately matters. When we can

Toxic relationships make us feel unworthy and empty inside. But when we garner the strength to leave them, most of the time these feelings stay with us. On the bright side, the closing of that chapter welcomes new and better beginnings – the time to heal, to rediscover and to fall back in love with yourself. If you’ve recently exited a toxic relationship, here are some tips on getting through the healing process. 1. Acknowledge It Acknowledging what happened, the mistakes made, the problems that spurred, allows you to come to terms with reality. To truly heal and move on, you must be transparent with yourself. Accepting and recognizing the truth, that you were a part of an unhealthy relationship opens up the doors to learn and grow from it. 2. Gather Your Network Being single is a stronger risk factor for depression among men than it is for women. And having a social support system can drastically change that. Reach out to friends and family, the people in your life who matter and genuinely care for your well-being. It’s very hard to get through this vulnerable time alone and your support system can help you on this healing journey. 3. Seek Out New Activities During this healing period, take the time to discover new interests and hobbies. These new experiences can spark greater joy and add excitement to your life. So go on that solo hike you’ve always wanted to try, take up that new hobby that you’ve never

It’s normal to occasionally feel lost and question the many components of your life. However, it’s not something to simply put aside. If you neglect those feelings, you’re more prone to spiral into depression, something 30.6% of men experience in their lifetime. Feeling lost or empty inside opens the door to begin finding your true self. The journey of self-discovery will anchor your identity into things that matter to you, leading to a more fulfilling life. Why Do You Feel Lost? Life throws many unexpected and unwanted events your way – it’s something we can’t control all the time. Some triggers could be: – Recently ending a relationship. – Lack of understanding towards your purpose and goals in life. – Dissatisfaction with a job. Once you’ve accepted that you are experiencing this void, the next part requires you to take action and start your path on self-discovery. Steps to Finding Yourself 1. Ask Yourself What Matters Take a moment to ask yourself what you find important in your life. Do you want to be a more present father figure to your children? Does your position at your company matter more? These questions give you perspective on what you should be doing and spending your time on. When you highlight the things that matter to you in your life, you can then make the necessary changes to align your actions with them. 2. Setting Small Goals Goals add structure and meaning to our lives. And these don’t have to be huge