Leaves and Sails

A metaphor I frequently use when working with clients to discuss emotional awareness is: You can be a leaf in the wind or you can be a sailboat. That is, our internal emotional experience (the wind) is happening regardless of whether we are conscious of it or not. If we are not conscious of our emotional process we are a leaf in the wind being blown around by mysterious forces. Awareness in my opinion is 80% of change, the other 20% has to do with intentional choices and the actions those choices yield. As we become more aware of our emotional process we experience that while the wind may be powerful, it has patterns and in knowing them, we can set a course towards healing and growth. We need not be lost at sea nor leaves in the wind. This begs the question, “How can we better develop awareness of our emotional process?”  Journaling is generally recommended when beginning to work with clients. Take some time daily if possible to reflect and write about your emotional experience of the day. What feelings were brought up? What triggered them? What did it remind you of? The act of intentionally taking time to reflect and process with one’s self creates a space where we can begin to learn the patterns of our inner winds.