"Emotional Dumping"

I believe that taking care of yourself, first, is very important. Hard to do, yes, but still a must! So today's title may be a bit misleading, but I am not talking about the kind of dumping that happens when a relationship ends terribly. Today, I'll be sharing with you about a practical way I stay in tune with my feelings/emotions.

This is something I call my "Emotional Dump Journal," and it's been so helpful in the past few, slightly difficult, days. Basically, as a header, I'll write the date, time, and event that may have triggered my need to emotionally dump. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't just a negative journal. My very first entry was one from a refreshed, excited and grateful heart. However, lately it's been handy in frustrating, and difficult times. This journal is to help me with keeping certain thoughts/feelings to myself. Though, I must admit that I do tend to share what is frustrating me, but the purpose of this journal is to help curb that habit.

GOAL #1:

I want to be a light in dark situations.

I know that there will be times where I'm going to need an actual human being to vent to, but the end result I'm aiming for is to be able to be more of a positive person to be around. I've been feeling like a burden, a downer, and most times, like a gossiper. So, my goal is to be at a place where I don't feel like I need to tell EVERYONE how frustrated I am, and maybe share with the few who ground me; because quite honestly, I share how I'm feeling to be reassured by those around me that I'm NOT CRAZY. That I'm allowed to feel the way I do. But I don't want to be a person that needs to be validated. I want to be the person who can recognize a problem (within myself or others or situations) and FIX IT. Just take initiative to actually make a change, without making the situation worse, or turning people against each other.

GOAL #2:

I want to put myself first.

I want to focus back on my first statement: "I believe that taking care of yourself, first, is very important." I am the type of person that thinks of everyone else's needs before my own, and sometimes to an extreme. I've stretched myself thin, over and over, for people who don't appreciate me, resulting in me being (1) extremely exhausted, (2) completely stressed out, and (3) losing sight of my self worth.

I feel that an Emotional Dump journal has helped me keep my sanity at times, and also to help me understand the way I'm feeling or what is causing me to feel that way. By acknowledging my feelings, and even validating my own feelings without going to another person, I've found that the answers I'm looking for are IN ME, because I have Jesus in me. He has empowered me by loving me, and reminding me of how loved I am. Once I'm able to ground myself in my relationship with Jesus and the way He views me, I am able to find peace and let go of my frustrations.

The point of Emotionally Dumping in this way, is to learn how to (healthily) express your feelings, and then let it go. A lot of times, I find myself expressing my frustrations, holding onto it, and then some times I end up going from person to person and stewing in my feelings. That is a very toxic way I've been dealing with my feelings, but I intend to change that with this journal, and I hope that you will be able to relate and do the same for yourself.

Please remember to spread happiness and joy, put yourself first, and let go of unnecessary things that are holding you down. Because in the end, "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY."