Drowning in Feelings

There are times in this life that all of us get immersed in a swirl of feelings that are ridiculously hard to sort out. They race around the track of our mind, darting in and out of our consciousness, making us feel out-of-whack and losing control.

Maybe the precipitating cause was something done to us. Maybe it is something that was done to someone we love. Maybe it’s a world event that shakes our inmost calm. Sorting it all out seems impossible because there are so many differing feelings, so many divergent paths.

There is a way to sort them out. It doesn’t take long. And all it requires is a pen and paper. This is equally effective for new issues and problems that have plagued you for years.

Here are the four basic statements. Write each as many times as necessary filling in the end with as many things as you can think of for the specific situation you are wanting to work through.

I am angry because…

I am sad/hurt because…

I am afraid that…

I am sorry for…

As you write each, let the feelings come up with them. Write them and get them out so they will no longer be on loop in your brain and your body.

When you finish those four, then write out the following statement several times for each person involved in this situation (including yourself).

I forgive _____________, and I release him/her to the love and gentleness of the Holy Spirit.

When you have finished with the forgiveness statement, there may be a void in your being from all of the feelings you have released. It is important to fill that gap with something positive.

So, next write as many endings for each of these statements that you can think of.

I am grateful for/that…
I give thanks to God for…
My life is great because…

Do this two or three times over the course of a week and the negative, soul-sapping feelings you are experiencing should begin to subside as new creative ways to handle the situation emerge.