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): a very large ocean wave that is caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption and often causes extreme destruction when it strikes land.Hearts and minds the world over continue to offer prayer and financial support to our Japanese brothers and sisters. Those of us outside Japan cannot imagine the experiences they've had, and will continue to deal with for years as a result of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
We do know, intimately, our own emotional tsunamis. A traumatic life experience can send us reeling out of control. Some of us even react by destroying the people and things in our path. Take, for example, a romantic breakup. Falling in love can be the emotional high of a lifetime. Losing love can be a most devastating emotional experience. Remember your first (or even most recent) lost love, and the tear it ripped in your heart? People become depressed over breakups; sometimes even committing suicide, homicide or crimes against people and property.The power of emotion is analogous to the power of a tsunami. Life changing. All consuming. Completely devastating. An interior eruption that often causes extreme destruction when it strikes. A recent study led by Ethan Kross, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, found that the experience of social rejection, such as a romantic breakup, activates the same parts of the brain involved in sensing physical pain. Social and physical pain share a common neurocircuitry and involve a highly specific pattern of brain activation, giving new meaning to the idea that rejection hurts.
The difference between an ocean tsunami and an emotional tsunami is that we have control over how we respond to our emotions and can prevent a tsunami. That's a huge difference. A lifesaving difference.
We shouldn't wait for an emotional earthquake to hit in order to disaster-proof our lives. We can work on building resilience so that when, not if, emotional disaster strikes, we're prepared to ride the wave until the storm calms.
Liz, "when, not if" is exactly correct.
ReplyDeleteThey come at unexpected, unwanted times.
It's nice to be prepared for a feeling that's not so nice.
Here's what it looks like:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs9e3xPxJ5o
I Like to look at this a little more deeper. a couple a days ago I woke up thinking/asking why does it take a trauma to get us to understand change is needed. why is it we run out of our wounds and habits, patterns? it seems as though we run from our default (emotions such as anger fear)/ My sense of this is because the habits that are formed from day one create our life weather it be positive or negative. Lets speak to the negative. experience some recent trauma in my neighborhood I continue to be angry and on guard and still don't feel safe hear in my own home, always on guard! and as I write this I know its not true but the trauma I experienced continues to trigger my emotions of anger and fear. So hence when it come to trauma or a negative experiences we run into our wounds and default go into the habits of anger because that is what is best suited for us to respond in that way because it is a habit. Now lets take a look and why this happens. When the negative trigger happens we respond in anger and at time we don’t even know we are doing it, it just is. some time unconscious and the all hell break lose. Then at time we have to clean it up if we are aware of what we did and most of the time our anger is justified. The key to healing is to break the habit, patterns, and reputations that run our emotions. when it come to anger it is mindfully finding something to break you out of the pattern. Like out loud saying STOP visualize a stop sing take a breath and ask you self what am I doing? although the horrible situation in Japan was huge and these things happen and have been going on for a while now and it is not easy to see these things coming. We can how ever see these tsunami coming towards us most of the time and if we are in alignment and have faith in god we can get thru the tsunami with less pain and suffering, providing we are willing and able to do the intense work necessary to break free form the habit and and painful experiences., We seem to want to do thing the hard way cry out the pour pitiful me's and run our of our habits and patterns which keeps us stuck and in anger and fear with no way out. Remember to find a tool to help break free from this blockage as soon as you can find a tool, the sooner you can move forward out of the habit.
ReplyDeleteSome great points Elyse. I hope you don't mind if I paraphrase and highlighting a few;
ReplyDelete*We can get thru the tsunami with less pain and suffering, providing we are willing and able to do the intense work necessary to break free from the habits, patterns and repetitions that run our emotions.
*Remember to find a tool to break free from this blockage as soon as you can! You can move forward out of the habit. Like out-loud saying STOP. Visualize a stop sign, take a breath and ask you self what am I doing?
These are some very practical suggestions. Thank you for sharing!