206. Does she have it all together? Or has she built up her emotional intelligence?

In this episode, we’ll dive into a topic that’s been relevant for me lately: processing and embracing emotions, including grief. Here’s a look at what you’ll hear in the episode:

• Not a Therapist: Just to be clear, I’m not a doctor or a therapist. But over the past eight years, especially since I was pregnant with my second child, I’ve worked hard to build my emotional intelligence and learn to recognize and process my feelings.

• Crying as a Tool: I want to talk about crying—something that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Personally, I cry almost every day, and I’ve come to see it as a valuable way to process emotions.

• Old Emotions: I’m still working on clearing out emotions I’ve been holding onto for over 30 years. It’s been a long journey, but one that I’ve learned so much from.

• Finding Safe Spaces: It’s crucial to find spaces where I feel comfortable expressing my emotions. These safe spaces are defined by trust and the ability to hold my feelings without judgment.

• Safe Spaces Defined: For me, safe spaces aren’t just physical places but are defined by the trust and emotional capacity of the people around me.

• Emotional Capacity: Not everyone has the emotional bandwidth to support others’ emotions. I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask if someone has the capacity to listen before sharing my feelings.

• Parenting Through Grief: I’ve learned to model healthy emotional expression for my children, showing them that it’s okay to cry and talk about our feelings openly.

• Teaching Through Example: By sharing my emotions with my kids, I aim to teach them how to handle their own grief and feelings in a healthy way.

• Experiencing Joy: It’s been challenging but essential for me to allow myself to feel joy even when I’m grieving. I’ve learned that both joy and sadness can coexist.

• Finding Beauty in the Storm: Embracing both sadness and joy, and recognizing the beauty in difficult times, helps me find balance and healing.

Thank you for tuning in, friend. I hope this episode helps you navigate your own emotional landscape with greater ease, flow, and compassion. xo