Mental Health Update // Feeling the Feelings Instead of Eating the Feelings

I loooooooooove doing personality tests. You know this quizzes found at the end of every teen magazine? I loved doing those! I remember waiting in line at Walmart as a preteen, flipping to the end of each J-14 mag an doing the quiz fests. They’re just fun, you know? Even though they’re not necessarily accurate!

Now there are definitely other personality tests that are more rooted in science and backed by anecdotes that found me as I grew and developed, like the 16-personality test (ESFJ-T, anyone?) and the 5 love languages.

The other day I was consulting with my coach and she mentioned me being on Life Path 4. I was like, “Whoa, what is that?! I quickly grabbed a pen and journal to scribble this down.

Then, research. I read this article about myself and I highlighted the parts that resonated the most:

You have a sensible, traditional, well-behaved way about you and aren’t “into” people who are otherwise. You don’t understand people who are big risk takers, don’t follow the rules, or don’t thrive in a traditional work or family environment.

You feel most comfortable when you’re moving slowly and deliberately. You work out your plan and want your life to be orderly. Underneath that planning is a fear of chaos and a real dislike of appearing stupid or naïve in any situation.

Overall, you’re eminently practical, hardworking, and determined. No matter what, you’ll get it done.

Part of your life’s journey is to learn to get outside of your own box and take a chance or a risk once in a while.

—https://feliciabender.com/four-life-path/

Down-to-earth and grounded are terms that are probably often used to describe you. You find hard work rewarding.

Those with Life Path Number 4 tend to be organized, and like to put things back in their “proper place” … it is one of their strong points, and they feel better able to tackle challenges if they have a solid plan in place beforehand. They tend to be set in their ways and are drawn to leading an orderly life. Home is their haven, and if their home environment appears sloppy and unkempt, that is a sign that a Life Path 4 person is not doing well.

Loyal and very dependable, they make an excellent friend or partner, but may have just a small circle of friends.

—www.seventhlifepath.com/numerology/life-path-number-4/

Something else, I’m working on is feeling all my feelings, allowing them to live and have their moments. Including the bad ones. I’ve come up with a new thought.

When encountering a difficult emotion:

“The more I commit to this feeling, the faster it passes; the easier it will become. This is an opportunity to flex my emotional muscles.”

me smiling park sping

For me, a difficult emotion would be bordem, guilt, shame, obligation, resentment, tiredness, despair, sadness, loneliness, agitation, anxiety, and restlessness. I often acted out by emotional/binge eating, or doing something else impulsive (like shopping). I know that when I process the full emotion in my body from head to toe, and call out each sensation I’m feeling as if I’m in a meditative, zen like state, it helps the feeling run its course. After all, most feelings last about 10-20 minutes, and the more I allow them to pass through instead of resisting or numbing out with substances or another dopamine hit, the faster it’ll pass through.

Well…

You may also like:

What’s your emotional baseline?

My Binge Eating Disorder Story

13 reasons why you’re bingeing

Why You’re Worth It


What’s your life path? What’s your horoscope? Do you have  current mantra? I’d love to know in the comments below. Your comments are always read and answered by me. ^^