What happens when you try to force a balloon under the water?
Well,
Firstly,
It takes a lot of effort to keep it down.
And secondly,
Well.
.
.
The moment your focus comes away from it or it slips.
Then it kind of,
Ooh.
It pops straight back up.
And it makes mess everywhere.
Yes,
So many of us are treating our strong emotions exactly the same way.
When things like anger,
Anxiety or sadness pop up,
Our first reaction is to fight it and suppress it and force it back under the surface again.
And we tell ourselves that strong feelings are a sign of weakness or that we should be over it by now.
But trying to suppress an emotion is physically and mentally exhausting.
In fact the harder.
.
.
That you push.
That emotional balloon down.
The more pressure builds up.
Underneath.
And in therapy.
.
.
We know that an emotion is simply energy in motion.
It's a temporary biological wave which is passing through your body.
And you are not your anger,
Your anxiety or grief.
You are simply the vessel holding the experience.
And when you stop trying to force and hold the balloon.
Underneath the water.
And instead just.
.
.
Allow it to float gently on the surface.
Well,
Something wonderful happens.
The tension releases.
The water settles.
And the emotion.
Naturally loses its power.
So the next time a heavy emotion arrives.
.
.
Don't waste your energy trying to.
Push it down.
Underneath the surface.
Just allow it to be.
Right there on its own.
Observe it without judgment and watch how quickly it settles and.
.
.
Disappears.
