How many times do we respond with an “okay” when everything is not fine? When everything is falling to pieces, and our emotions are so raw that acknowledging them will lead us to the brink of tears, why do we say we’re fine? Instead of naming and owning our stresses and anxieties, we hide them. If I responded with the truth, I would be afraid that others don’t want to listen, or I that was burdening them with my problems.
It is okay to permit yourself not to be okay and deal with those feelings. We can’t push them away and forget about them. We can instead sit in our grief, loneliness, sadness, anxiety, and pain and then name it. We can be on a first-name basis with our emotions so we can deal with them.
The next time your emotions are raw, don’t conceal it with an “okay” or “fine.” Pause before you answer.
This message is excerpted from the July 29, 2020, Cafe Faith Reflection “How are you?” by Ralen Robinson. All are welcome to attend a Blue Christmas service via Zoom, December 21 at 7 p.m. (CST).
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