Moving and Meltdowns: Emotional Resilience
I recently moved, and if you’ve ever experienced relocating from one home to another, you know it’s a challenging task that requires a lot of patience. I told one of my brothers that I was really proud to have had only had one minor meltdown during this difficult move. He laughed, saying a meltdown is a meltdown, but I disagree.
Ideally, I wouldn’t have been distracted by my feelings at all, but here’s my takeaway: I’ve been working hard not to let my emotions take over my work and actions. All the meditations, gratitude lists, journaling, exercises, etc., have brought me to a place where:
I Have a Higher Bottom Now: I haven’t eliminated all my negative feelings—I still feel low sometimes. But thanks to the work I’ve been doing, I don’t hit the same lows I used to. I can catch myself before falling too hard.
This Too Shall Pass: This phrase used to annoy me, as it felt dismissive. Now, I understand that I don’t have to cling to thoughts, feelings, and actions that don’t improve my life. All feelings are temporary and will pass.
I’m Able to Work: By practicing self-control, I don’t let my responsibilities slip. I take action even when I’m aware of my feelings. I’ve learned that I don’t have to feel good to do good.
My Patience Has Grown: Activities like meditation, biking, dancing, and journaling have all increased my patience, helping me avoid feeling overwhelmed. These body and mind exercises enable me to let go of minor setbacks that used to crush me.
I’d love to be the person who smoothly transitions into a new home, calmly handling every setback. But I’m really proud to be the person who showed immense patience throughout the moving process and only felt sad for one afternoon. I can’t be perfect. I’m grateful to be better.
ACTION: Take one minute to reflect on a recent challenging situation and identify one way you handled it better than you would have in the past. Acknowledge your growth and resilience, and remind yourself that progress, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.
