52. Equanimity: Cleaning Up After the Storm with Self-Compassion (part 5)

In this episode, we're in the final part of our five-part series on equanimity. In this series, we've worked through this process of an emotional storm and how we can use equanimity to get us through with less suffering. In this episode, we're walking out of our house to assess what may be some damage after the storm. This phase of the storm can be hard to face, but it can actually be the easiest phase to tap into equanimity. As we assess with self-compassion, we can tune into our equanimity to fix what may need to be fixed and to also make a future storm less difficult. Listen in for some key strategies to make this process less painful and more effective for taming future storms. 

Key Takeaways:

• It's not uncommon to ignore the damage after an emotional storm. Sometimes the wreckage feels too much to deal with. However, if we don't assess and clean up, then we're sure to have another one like it in the future.
• Space to assess the damage and the context is essential- we need to give ourselves that space. We can then move through the storm in our minds, trying to notice where we could have made a shift to deter some of the damage.
• This process can be really helpful to do with a mental health practitioner and/or others who you trust.
• One key strategy to handling the larger emotional storms is to practice with the little daily windstorms that come your way. For example, try tackling road rage or situations where you feel mildly overwhelmed (like in a social situation). 

Links and Sources Mentioned:

• Joy Lab Program (step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life)
• Joy Lab Podcast #12 (Five Pathways to Inner Calm) This episode is a broad overview of what we'll be talking about over the next 5 episodes. It's a really helpful summary!
• Joy Lab Podcast #26 (Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think [about yourself])
• Joy Lab Podcast #27 (Self-Compassion: Easing Up On Yourself)
• Joy Lab Podcast #28 (Self-Compassion: Remembering You're Not Alone)
• Joy Lab Podcast #29 (Backdraft: When Being Good to Yourself Feels Bad)
• Joy Lab Podcast #34 (Meditation with Music: Heart-Opening Meditation). This is a great body awareness practice.
• Joy Lab Podcast #48 (Equanimity: A Tool for Emotional Reactivity & the Power of Grounding-Part 1)
• Joy Lab Podcast #49 (Equanimity: When an Emotional Storm Hits & Thoughts Start Spiraling-Part 2)
• Joy Lab Podcast #50 (Equanimity: Seeing our Storylines and Changing Course- Part 3)
• Joy Lab Podcast #51 (Equanimity: Emotional Reactivity and Damage Control- Part 4)
• Bianca Bowers website

Full transcript available at: https://www.naturalmentalhealth.com/podcasts/joy-lab-podcast/episodes/2147888674