I recently spoke with a client about emotional check-ins during the day. It is a practice that I exercise regularly. Just like we need to have physical disciplines to maintain our physical health, we need emotional check-ins to maintain emotional health. Of course, we also need spiritual check-ins to keep our spiritual health fresh and alive.
The emotional check-ins are really simple. Periodically during the day, one just takes a moment alone, takes a deep breath or two to make a little break from whatever activity we are currently doing, and then we ask ourself, “What is going on with me right now?”
Am I feeling sad, angry, scared, stressed, lonely, grateful- whatever- and we get in touch with it. One must be completely honest and open with what is going on at the moment. Any feeling is just that- it is present at the moment. The feeling need not be negative, although it might be, and we must make room for that possibility.
As we acknowledge what we are feeling- and more than one thing is certainly possible- we accept it and allow ourselves that feeling. Once we acknowledge it, we can decide how we want to react to it. Honesty is the most important part of the exercise. If we are angry, we might want to explore what that is about. Maybe the anger is toward ourself. Maybe it is really fear that looks like anger. Maybe in the moment we don’t really know, but at least we are in touch with what is going on at the present time.
When I suggested this to my client, he admitted that he had never thought to do this, partly because he was more in the practice of checking in with others and how they felt. He agreed that this would be a good little exercise to keep him grounded and self-aware.
So, just a quick little exercise that we can do to stay aware and healthy.
How are you feeling?
Prayer: Lord, help us to take time to breathe and be aware of you and our own current state, Amen.
Reflections of a Counselor 