Being mindful of my own vulnerabilities is no easy task, but for the sake of my mental health I work on it constantly. Before letting my emotions run wild and unchecked I find it helpful to take stock of where I might be vulnerable to having an outburst. Did I take my meds, get enough sleep and exercise, am I hungry or in pain…etc?
It brings the responsibility for my conduct back to me, and I am the only thing I have complete control over in any given situation. I’m forced to dial myself back and give myself a little time to respond in a healthy way rather than just have a knee-jerk reaction.
The goal is never to suppress or deny my emotions, rather slow down my racing mind so that I can explore my feelings with a weathered eye. I don’t want to cause myself needless suffering by jumping to conclusions or flying off the handle. It’s not that I don’t have the right to have feelings about a situation, but my response should be tempered to match its severity.
Tempering my response to match the situation has saved me a great deal of heartache. It has helped me regulate my emotions so that I am not overwhelmed. It has helped me stop chasing my thoughts the same way a dog chases its tail.
Being in control of myself and responsible for my own conduct is liberating in ways I never imagined. Being aware and mindful of my vulnerabilities frees me from being a slave to my emotions.
My Phoenix Rising 