Practical Ways to Improve Your Emotional Health

These days there’s a lot going on that can turn our emotional world upside down, but you don’t have to be ruled by your emotions. In times up upheaval, stress, health issues, and turmoil in life, you can have a healthy emotional life. You may be wondering how that’s possible. I have some tips that can help you achieve emotional health, while everything and everyone around you may be swirling, AND you can share these tips with your friends and family. 

Practical Steps on the Journey to Emotional Health:

 1.    Start with prayer. This is a discipline that is most often overlooked, and it’s my most favorite. In almost every session with a client, I’ll be asked for my opinion or guidance around a specific issue. My question always is: have you taken it to the Lord in prayer? More often than not the answer is no. Prayer may seem like a passive action, but it is quite powerful. It’s in these times with the Lord, seeking His guidance and wisdom where we experience and enter into His peace. I have found that when I am in prayer about a particularly difficult issue I’m dealing with, I am calmed and am able to see the situation much more clearly than if I allowed myself to let my emotions lead. Phil. 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

2.    Biblical meditation. Do you have a favorite scripture that speaks truth to you? Currently, I’m holding onto Joshua 1:5b -6 “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…” I think about what this scripture means and consider all that may be coming at me, or what I may be heading into. What I do know is that He is already ahead preparing the way for me to enter into what He has for me. I also know that He knew what my challenges and struggles were going to be and has already provided me with a way through and a way out.

3.    Breathing. There is a new way of breathing called functional breathing. I love this because you don’t need special equipment or props to do it. When we’re breathing correctly and efficiently, it will help us to feel less stressed and anxious. Here’s a great resource to help you get started: https://wholelifefreedom.com/breathe-light-exercises/#breathe-light-video

Gen. 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”

4.    Challenge your emotions by identifying your beliefs. Emotions come out of what we believe. If we are believing something that is false, we can experience a number of feelings: stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, hurt, depression, etc. When we start to identify whether or not what we’re believing is true, which is found in God’s Word, the Bible, our emotions will follow. I like using the Feelings Wheel to identify my emotions: https://feelingswheel.com/ and I have a teaching on False Beliefs vs. True Beliefs: https://rumble.com/v2qkwvq-false-beliefs-vs.-true-beliefs.html

If you’re unsure as to what your false beliefs are, here is a worksheet to help you get started: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kc7YvN7OnTe2z4CNHmUc-_qeKNQUG0-q/view?usp=drive_link

a.    First start by saying each false belief listed out loud and if it resonates for you.

b.    Then identify if it’s a projected lie or a survival lie or both. If you watch my video on False Beliefs vs. True Beliefs you’ll learn about the different types of lies.

c.     Then process through with how it affects you.

d.    Then process through how it affects others.

5.    Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) aka Tapping. This is a technique I was introduced to a number of years ago, and not only does it work great with adults, it can help kids too. It is a method for discharging trapped emotions or bodily pain by releasing blocked energy. When using this technique, you’ll need a quiet place to do the exercise but you won’t need any props or equipment. Ready to get started? Here’s a great resource: https://wholelifefreedom.com/understanding-eft/

Wherever you are right now, you can have peace and health. Get started by using one of the techniques listed and try a new one when you’re ready. Just keep it simple.

John 14:27 “What I am leaving you is shalom (peace) – I am giving you My shalom. I don’t give it the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.”