Calmness In the Eye of the Emotional Storm, Revisited ........... 4/29/15

I am presenting this again, written four years ago, when this place was just a baby.  The subject matter is still relevant: not getting triggered by abusive others. Maintaining our safety during roiling times. Let me know your thoughts.

I'm grateful for principles that allow me 

to remain calm in the midst of a storm

It's important shel-tering ourselves, when overwhelmed by the crushing waves of abuse. This is also true when experiencing des-pair, frustration, self-loathing or the negative behavior of others, as was the case yesterday.

         An instrumen-tal part of my growth is Al-Anon Family Groups, an amazing organization.  It's been an emotional and mental life saver.  For more about it, see the footnotes.  As, always, take what you like and leave the rest. 

         It's easy surrendering our boundaries, becoming intimidated.  This is a natural reaction when relating with an angry or manipulative individual.  I no longer please unpleasant people, nor bear the burden of another's

misbehavior, nor submit to overbearing conditions.  For more about that, you might want to read this. 

       Yesterday was a humdinger of a day.  I experienced quite a hurricane of the emotional type.  Relating with a volatile person certainly tested my patience. 

       I was encouraged seeing that in spite of the turbulence of this person's actions, I took time, noticing what was going on within me.  That wasn't my tendency as a kid.  Thank God for personal growth; it helped me thrive in spite of yesterday's difficult circumstances.  

       Several years ago, I believed the needs of others were more important than mine.  Now, I know better.  Understanding the importance of paying attention to my behavior, thoughts and feelings contributes to the joy that is a central part of my life.  Even if we are not aware that we are not nurturing ourselves, our spirit and soul require our attention.
        
                  Depression is our neglected psyche issuing a silent scream. This negative, draining emotion lets us know we are neglecting ourselves, emotionally, we are experiencing an unmet need.

      While not depressed, yesterday I yearned for tranquility.  Applying healthy principles permitted me to have emotional safety, even during intense drama.  I'll list some of these principles in today's gratitudes. 

 1.  It's best staying present when engaged in a crisis.  It's better responding, not reacting to others. 

      When I react when immersed in an emotional storm, it's to my detriment.  I end up surrendering big chunks of my values.  I am trying to soothe the situation by yielding to manipulators, angry or abusive others.  

          This 's not my response now.  For more about dealing with Emotional Bullies, you might want to read this.  This link provides an excellent article: Words Do Hurt--Stop Bullying From Affecting Your Health. 
     
          Bullies are more than our image of thugs who harass kids on school playgrounds or in the seamier parts of town.  They can be our adult siblings, our spouse, our boss, among others.  Yikes!

2.  As I get stronger, characterologically, I am not rattled when "bad" things happen. Others no longer define me. 

3.  I'm grateful that---with practice---while enduring another person's  emotional meltdown, I emotionally stepped aside. 

     I can pause and decide my response.  This is what police, fire fighters and those who work in psychiatric hospitals do, when facing a crisis.  It's in our best interests when we do.  

     We can consider our options----asking ourselves, "what is it that I can do to take care of my needs?"

4.  I'm thrilled that moments that years ago would have disturbed me can now be seen with humor.  I'm thankful for a viewpoint that sees through the prism of healthy principles.  This lens allows my joy to remain, even while enduring significant pressures. 

5.  I appreciate skills that help me thrive during moments that once overwhelmed Yesterday, it was helpful to detach. I was courteous, yet firm, towards a person who yelled at three different people, including the mailman (poor guy).  She also smashed a flower pot, dirt, flowers and all, on the floor, shattering it to pieces, in her living room.

      If only she could have been a little more emotional. (I'm kidding.)

6.  I'm happy that, when I witnessed this emotional meltdown, I was calm. 

     The muscles in my face were relaxed.  I spoke in a measured manner.  My heart rate, wasn't too elevated.  Of course adrenaline kicked in----I'm human.  During the drama, my options, I considered. 

      One of them was getting out of there, away from that person. It's good knowing I'm not a helpless victim.  I've choices.  Doing what provided serenity, during an intense, unpleasant moment, was my priority.  

     After the episode settled down, I left.  Time elsewhere, enjoying hours free from emotional drama, doing something that nurtured me, was the tonic chosen.

Freedom
Not Letting Others Affect My Serenity or Joy 

         I'm fortunate that I don't allow others to determine my moods or define who I am.  That's being codependent.  For more about that, you might want to look at this.  When I need the applause of others to feel good about myself, I give them power over me.  Not a good idea.  (Courage to Change, Virginia Beach,  Al-Anon Family Groups, Inc., 1992, 9, Print) 

        I'm thankful that yesterday, when I had an opportunity to do spiritual weight lifting, I did.  For several reps, I calmly lifted the weight of a dramatic situation.  Towards the emotionally intoxicated person, I was compassionate, yet detached.

        I've learned that pigeons do what pigeons do.  I've learned not to sit under a tree that has pigeons roosting in it.  I don't take a pigeon's behavior personally.  Angry people are caught up in their misery.  Many don't  know how to express their needs.  Anger is a tragic expression of needs.  It either alienates, infuriates or freezes those encountering it.

       I'm glad every time I respond to abuse or drama, using assertive principles, I get stronger.  It also gets easier, responding from strength----not fear.  Also, acting this way in the future becomes more likely.

       It feels good, not being ruled by the anger of another. I did not cave in to guilt, shame, blame or fear.  When relating with others in a nonviolently, I place principles above my personality.  Please see footnote 1. 

       My response yesterday, while in a maelstrom of someone else emotional relapse is a huge change.  Abuse I endured as a child. Please see footnote 2.  My nature, before----and now, if I don't exercise the presence of mind which recovery from codependency offers----was passivity.  I'd either become frozen with fear or withdraw and isolate. Those were two ways of protecting myself. 

       I once permitted abuse to shower upon me.  I felt I deserved it.  Now, I know that thought is an outright lie.  Once, I was a doormat.  Now, and yesterday, I got up off the floor. (Courage to Change, p. 361)

       Seeing myself emotionally mature is gladdening.  Transforming from being emotionally the age of a seven year old to that of a mature man in his late twenties (even though I'm older than that) is heartening.  That's progress, not perfection.  And for that, I have an Attitude of Gratitude. 

How About You? 

What helps you to stay "centered" when you are pushed by the emotional storms of others? 

Footnote

1. Al-Anon Family Groups is an international organization for friends and relatives of alcoholics, whether this person is actively drinking or not. Click here to find a meeting near you. 

     It is in no way related with Alcoholics Anonymous. This is an entirely separate organization, helping those who have been affected by the effects of alcohol in another. 

    Members learn how to deal with emotional abusers, less than pleasant bosses, intimidators, issues of control, perfectionism, and other problem behavior characteristics often found where others are chemically dependent or emotionally repressed. Al-Anon Family Group (AFG) members learn to clean their side of the street, how to take care of themselves. 

      Even if a person doesn't relate with an alcoholic, attending may help that person recover from passivity, fear, self-loathing. Members learn that establishing healthy boundaries is key for emotional health.  There are open meetings for those who want to learn more about this organization. 

2. "Looking within is essential from the effects of another's drinking [or abuse], for although we may have experienced difficulties and trauma in our formative years, it is actually the continuing reaction to these things that troubles our lives today. Although we may have left the alcoholic [or abuser], we did not escape the turmoil, guilt,  insecurity, rage, and fear we knew in our youth.  In fact, we were suffocating in our own unhappy habits (or emotions), never realizing  that another way, a spiritual way, could allow us to draw  life-giving breaths of hope, friendship, and love. 

    "Awareness does not settle everything, nor does change happen overnight.  Spiritual growth takes  time. Making the "new" [our recovery from less than perfect circumstances] a familiar and comfortable part of ourselves takes personal commitment and the support of others...to help us on our way."   From Survival to Recovery, p. 268.