Write for Overreactions
Hello Dear One,
How do you know when you’re not quite yourself? When something’s brewing at a deeper level?
It jumps out to me in behaviour. I witness myself acting in ways I’m not proud of - responding to flares of emotion by being moody or sulky, becoming withdrawn or angry over trivial things. I don’t like the way this feels, because I find it hard to like this part of myself. I am, however, learning to befriend it.
My internal monologue is pre-programmed to shame me at times like this: lazy, selfish, ungrateful. But the more I try and push feelings away, or paper over them, the stronger they become. And, as Brené Brown says:
What we don’t need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human.
Even calling my response an ‘over’ reaction passes judgement, fuelling a worse feeling. This is not what I, or you, deserve. What I tell myself is this: if my reaction is disproportionate to the situation then a part of me is in pain. Often it’s the young part of me that feels exposed and scared. I might not be able to justify this feeling, but I can explore it.
Some emotions are easy to identify: like daisies in the grass. They wave their heads about the soil, happy to be plucked. Others are deep-rooted. Writing helps us access these layers and explore them with curiosity, rather than anger and frustration. And once things are on the page they are so much easier to let go.
I hope it helps. In the week’s to come, I’m choosing to pay attention to what isn’t showing up in my daily writing or self-care practices, but spills out at inconvenient times. As our world’s change again it’s natural to be uncertain about how we feel. And yes we might make mistakes.
Instead of judging ourselves, we can recognise that acting out of alignment with our values is a sign something inside needs our attention and care. The next time you feel yourself reacting strongly to a situation pause. Ask yourself: what am I feeling? What do I need?
Thanks for being here, and being you.
All love,
Jo
P.S. As we’ve just passed Summer Solstice this letter on abundance is another great one to try.
WRITE TO REFLECT: The Mid-Year Edition is on Thursday, 7.30 pm GMT via Zoom.
This special workshop will celebrate your achievements and growth over the last six months and create space for what is to come. It’s writing for you, set to an optional playlist, and nothing needs to be shared.
If you’re unable to make it live, the session will be recorded and sent out. Grab your ticket here.
AND, as always, I’d love it if you liked, commented on or shared the letter. You can also buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. Thank you, thank you, thank you.