Tag Archives: Self-help

Probably don’t think of yourself that way, but most of us run from pain and  in the process run from reality. We think running will keep us safe. Emotional fitness involves knowing what is real and what is your feelings playing tricks.

Image by TV By The Numbers.

Fear says to run, but even if a bear is heading your way, the way you stay safe is not to run, not to climb a tree, but to face the bear and to even stand facing him when he seems to be running at you to attack. Mostly he is bluffing. The same with fear.  More often than not fear exaggerates the threat. Here is a Wiki How Film  that tells you what to do if a bear spots you and is heading toward you. How does that apply to being emotionally fit?  The video stresses staying calm,  knowing some facts, having a plan, and facing the bear.  Those steps are the steps needed to be emotionally fit.  

Here is the video and sorry about the ads.  Also, I found the flying head a bit too much. Be warned, and this is not for kids, at least I wouldn’t show it to anyone under seven or eight.

Another point.  The video says if you are cannot avoid an attack to curl up in a fetal position. Out dated. The more updated information is to lie face down. legs straight out behind you and to protect your neck with your arms, and pray to what ever God or force you believe might help you.

But here is the reality check .  How many people are attacked and killed by bears a year? Fewer than five or six.  That is why such attacks make the news. Spending time worrying about such an attack while not 100% useless; is not worth more than the half an hour I have spent writing this.

EMotional fitness tips

Tip one: The fear of bears gets a lot of fear time, because it is primal.  The brain does not update primal fears. You need to understand that most fears have their roots in primal fears.

Tip two: Stay calm.

Tip three: Do a reality check and remember only a few things are immediately life threatening. In a burning building, you want to find the quickest way out.  In bear territory and you see a bear ahead of you, you want to retreat in the opposite direction as quietly as possible.

Tip four: In most situations, the proper action is not let fear boss you and that means either putting it behind you and forgetting about it or doing what fear says not to do. Not easy sometimes, but part of being emotionally fit.

STAY STRONG

Fear and worry erode emotionally fitness. Distraction helps keep both in their place.  Practicing one of the Easy Emotional Fitness Exercises  or  EFTI’s Self Soothing Exercises  distracts as well as calms.

If you like my efforts to share knowledge, subscribe to my Emotional Fitness Training newsletter.  See the sidebar.  If you think my words might help another, particularly a parent of a teen, share. Sharing in caring.

Finally another free book for parents. This one prompted me to think about how we all fun away.  Here it is:  ‘When Good Kids Run Away‘ is free for five days this week from Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th May.

For all you do to support me and to bring kindness to our world, thank you. You help me Stay Strong.

Katherine

Disclaimers 

The first and most important: Emotional Fitness Training is a self-help, knowledge sharing, coaching program. It is not therapy. Nor does it replace therapy when therapy is needed. If the exercises and support provided here do not help you gain control of negative feelings, is needed. Support groups, coaching, and therapy are other paths to emotional fitness.

Anyone with suicidal thoughts, thoughts of harming other people, or who engage in dangerous out-of-control behaviors needs professional help. Anyone with serious suicidal or homicidal plans need an immediate psychiatric evaluation.  Call a suicide hot line if you are unsure of where or how to get help. Suicidal hotlines USA.  Life can be better.

The second: I have dysgraphia, a learning disability that peppers my writing with mis-spelling and punctuation errors. All my books are professionally edited. Not so my blog post. Although I use all the grammar and spelling checks, mistakes slip by. If they bother you, seek another source of support for life’s less savory moments.   Life is too short to let problems you can avoid irritate you.

Related articles

• Feelings want to be felt: the problem with spiritual bypassing (nachiketasquest.wordpress.com)
• Brain System For Emotional Self-Control Could Offer A Potential Target For Therapies (medicalnewstoday.com)