Utilizing an Emotional Diet- Part 3- Learning Time

According to Wikipedia, our bodies are made up of approximately 642 muscles.  In order to build our muscle we need to challenge it on a consistent basis by engaging in a workout, sometimes pushing our bodies past our expected limit.  It is also necessary to push ourselves in other ways.  What enables us to ‘bounce back’ from life struggles, to problem-solve, and, essentially, to grow as a person, is our emotional resiliency.  Resiliency increases as we encounter new experiences, face the challenges they offer, and allow for some emotional discomfort.

The following ideas can help us to incorporate new experiences into our emotional diet:

Read-  The possibilities are endless when we pick up a book or magazine or explore a blog or article on the internet.  We can discover new information and expand our understanding of the world around us as well as our own views and biases on so many topics. 

Get Active- Take a class or workshop that provides hands-on experience in learning a new skill or expanding on an existing one.  Most community colleges offer continuing education/personal development courses which are time-limited and relatively inexpensive.  We can also support our local community by signing up for an adult education course at our local high school or library.  These courses are generally offered by local residents who possess a particular talent or knowledge and can provide an opportunity to connect with others in our neighborhood.

Explore -  We do not need to take a cruise around the world or visit an exotic location, although these are ways to step outside our comfort zone. Most of us tend to follow the same route to places we visit on a regular basis.  Try taking a different street, exit, or highway to get to the same place.  Explore your own neighborhood by walking or driving down each consecutive block and finding out where it leads to.  Rather than relying on technology, try to utilize a printed map and explore the next town over to where you work or live.

Increasing our resiliency through learning requires stepping out of our comfort zone and, most likely,  making mistakes and learning from them.   We may experience anxiety, however, it is important to remind ourselves that this feeling is appropriate, only temporary, and does not have to stop us from taking a step.  In the words of actor John Wayne, famous for his role as an American cowboy-  “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”

May this blog inspire us to ‘saddle up’ and keep moving forward on our journey.

In the next chapter, we will explore opportunities for emotional release.