Emotional Integrity

May 28

This month, May 2021 is Mental Health month. I have been reading thru social, listening to podcasts, and most recently the mainstream media is finally speaking openly on mental health. It has been a long time coming that mental health comes to the forefront with introspection and education versus the old stigma full of shame and judgment. Asking for help, sharing your emotional wellbeing, allowing yourself to “feel” is a part of our very essence of human nature. Vulnerability is now perceived as courageous instead of weak. In this blog post, my intention is to offer connectivity thru sharing my personal story; I also have included some self-inquiry journal prompts along with a self-love affirmation.

I began my own mental health journey over the past 12 years working with therapists and supportive guides which truly created a new way of living and being. By reclaiming my self-worth, healing my inner child, and building new healthy behaviors, boundaries, and belief systems… I have felt such a shift, a reconnection to my authentic self.

I am so grateful for the professionals I’ve worked with and continue to work with in my self-discovery, mental health journey. About 6 years ago I began feeling a strong pull to step into this line of heart guidance service. In March of this year, I enrolled in the Zura Health Academy to hone my skillset in offering a safe container for self-reflection and support; with the intention to build a strong foundation for myself and for those with whom I’ll be working. Along with this continuing education I am receiving thru Zura, I am integrating what feels aligned with my purpose, passion, and my natural intuitive gifts. Thru various stages of my inward healing journey, I’ve identified a consistent thread leading me to my emotional integrity and how I have developed it. I denied myself of owning, understanding my emotions as I did not realize… My deep ability to “feel” is part of my intuitive nature.

I have learned thru my years in therapy that allowing myself to emote in a safe environment; process, and release what I have been burying down deep within has created a deeper reverence and awareness to my emotional attunement. As a youngster I was always extremely sensitive, I would react quickly with tears and shutting down. Thru my teens, I learned how to protect myself, so I wasn’t so reactive in public or in my family dynamics. The protective armor I created became my coping mechanism that I led within my 20’s. I slowly began to lose my sense of self and I numbed my feelings thru perfectionism, controlling, strong co-dependent relationships, and living at the external level. In my last blog post I wrote about being an Empath, I shared in great detail my break down which was also my break thru to understanding my heightened emotional essence.

What I discovered thru reconnection to my authentic self is that my emotional integrity needed to be nurtured. I chose to create a new relationship with my emotions, allow myself to feel, but also to pause and connect with what is wanting to be expressed thru me vs “to me”. Thru building my emotional attunement, I have begun shifting from being reactive, reclusive, hidden to trusting my intuition, finding my authentic voice, and leading with my heart open (with healthy boundaries). I want to be fully transparent as I do not want to “sugar coat” my inward healing and self-discovery… It has been quite a long process, but every step of the way has been potent and instrumental by offering clarity rooted in self-accountability, self-reliance, and self-love.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

Below I have created some journal prompts to offer an opportunity to tune in to your emotional wellbeing.

This is not a test, these questions I created are to allow an honest self-reflective dialogue with your feelings. There are pathways within these questions that have the potential to create new awareness for you to feel into wherever you are at emotionally with your mind, body, and heart.

Before going forward with the journal prompts, I would like to share some important core values to remember when asking yourself these questions:

Please do not judge yourself.
Keep an open heart with compassion for yourself during this inward questioning.
Also, if nothing comes forward let it be nothing. Practice is essential, think of this as a new exercise, instead of a physical workout you are building new attunement muscles with your emotional awareness. Gradually these muscles will strengthen as you build your emotional integrity.

Create a supportive space:

First

Make sure you are in a quiet space without distraction or interruption. Find a comfortable seat, maybe it’s on the floor or sitting at your desk or in bed. The goal is to get yourself into a relaxed position for your physical body. Get comfy.

Second

Please bring a notepad or a journal. I have found it to be incredibly supportive thru my healing journey to not just feel, think, or talk but to write down my emotional expression. This process can feel heady, if that is the case close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths, put both hands over your heart space, and pause. Once connected in your heart-centered space, then you can begin the journal prompts. Remember, you are creating an authentic dialogue with your emotions.

Other supportive environmental tools

Have a cup of hot decaffeinated tea and/or freshwater by you. Hydration is always important, hot tea and water is nourishing and supportive while connecting with your “feeling body” and emotions. The energy of water offers fluidity, cleansing, nurturing.
Sitting in nature or opening a window to hear nature and fresh air is very grounding and supportive to soothe your nervous system.
Maybe play some soft meditative music. If you’re not sure what music to play, I’ve created a Spotify playlist- click here to listen to feel if this music is aligned for you. FEEL (link to be added)
Light a candle and set an intention. Example: trust, open heart, feel
Place your hands over your heart, close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths.

Inward self-inquiry, just 6 questions to begin your emotional attunement practice. Write down what word or words comes to you first, it is that simple. This is an exercise for feeling instead of thinking.

How does my body feel?
Examples: supported, tense, relaxed, calm.
How does my mind feel?
Examples: busy, quiet, anxious, clear, present.
How does my heart feel?
Examples: Open, closed, distant.
How am I feeling?
It’s easy to answer from your headspace but remember to check in from your heart, this is where your emotional integrity lies.
What is one emotion that you want to get more present/curious with?
Example: sad, angry, excited, happy, numb.
Is this emotion asking to be acknowledged, healed, or released?
Below is an affirmation to build your inward capacity of safety, love, and honor:
I am Love.
I am worthy.
I am abundant love & light.
I honor my path to healing, self-respect, attunement, and emotional integrity.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Below I have included a list of coaches, guides, a therapist’s referral site, and books that offer wonderful support. I have deep reverence for this opportunity to share with you and to you for taking the time to read and be with this post.

“May light continue to illuminate our shadows so we can heal with compassion, empathy, and respect.”

With love, and light,

Stacey

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-self-trust-by-nurturing-your-emotional-integrity/id1570019601?i=1000530708224