| In this
issue:
Is
Everything Okay?
What
I've Learned
HSP
Poem,
Charles Gulotta
Notes
from Fall 2003 East Coast Gathering
2004
East Coast Gathering
March 15 - Early Registration Deadline
2004
West Coast Gathering
Making
Work Work,
book review
|
A newsletter from Jacquelyn Strickland |
March 2004 Vol. 1 Issue 1
What I've Learned
 One
of the things I know we HSPs need to do in order to thrive
is to feel our feelings fully. We can't deny them, for they
will only fester and grow larger and more complex. Here are
a few suggestions for fully feeling our feelings:
-
· Close your eyes and concentrate on the
feeling(s) you are having;
-
Try to give the feeling(s) a name. For
example, my own feelings in "Is Everything Okay" started
out as 'sad.'
-
Become aware of where you are feeling this
energy in your body. I was feeling my sadness in my chest
and heart area.
-
Imagine that you are 'opening a door' to
this area of your body, to this feeling, and to the energy
the feeling possesses.
-
Just stay with this felt sense. Notice and
observe it. · Is anything changing? What are you feeling
now? For example, in my own experience, I went from feeling
sad, to feeling fearful, then to feeling helpless, then
to feeling powerless.
-
Know that you will be okay. Stay with that
energy, zoom in on it. As I stayed with my feeling of powerlessness,
it slowly turned to anger. As I stayed with the feeling
of anger, it slowly turned to a sense of relief, which then
turned into a sense of 'choice,' which then turned into
a sense of determination. Ah, I was feeling better already.
By doing this exercise (several times I might add) I was
able to let go of the sadness and become clearer about what
my intuition was saying - which was to do everything within
my power in the up-coming election to make my values and my
voice heard. I have been hesitant to speak with my son's friends,
for example, for fear of being seen as 'interfering.' Yet,
now feeling stronger, I know I will begin dialogues whenever
the opportunity arises without fear of judgment.
Which leads me to another thing I know we HSPs need to do
in order to thrive: Develop our intuition and go forward with
it, without a fear of judgment. We might need support from
a friend or counselor to do this, but do it we must. For a
more in-depth understanding of 'felt sense' try reading an
old favorite book of mine: Focusing, by Eugene Gendlin, Ph.D.
Note: I might add a word of caution: if you are clinically
depressed, it might be best to do this exercise with your
therapist.
For more on "What HSPs Can and Must Do to Thrive" please consider
attending the 3rd Annual Spring East Coast Gathering of HSPs
in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Details and a Registration Form
are on my website at lifeworkshelp.com
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