April showers bring May flowers...hopefully! Welcome back to another episode of Becoming the CEO Podcast where we gather to be educated, empowered and energized. I hope you guys are still powering through this COVID19 pandemic safely. I pray your families are well and if not I hope things turn around for you all.
Last week I spoke about how we all needed the rest that this pandemic was providing. But there’s much more that we need to do during this time. We need to get into our bag! I know we use this reference when it comes to money but I actually mean we need to take some time to catch our breath and face how we’re truly feeling. As I’ve been home the past couple of weeks I’ve been very reflective about the last 3 years:
In 2017 my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer and died within that same year which destroyed my world and I honestly didn’t mourn his death I planned the funeral, read the eulogy and kept it moving.
2018 I was in limbo with work, struggling with school to be honest my college journey has been HORRIBLE but that’s for another episode. My coping mechanism became my friendships and my relationship and when those started to get rocky I would just stay away from everyone.
2019 as you’ve heard me share before was the year I really had to let go and let God. What I didn’t share about 2018 was that I returned to a toxic work environment out of desperation or needing money. And it was hell on earth making the decision to return back to that office spewed over into 2019 and it resulted in me being harassed by my supervisor and retaliated against. I also struggled financially as I took the risk of starting my company while only making $21,000 a year. My health deteriorated as I worked 60 plus hours a week and ate like once a day. I mean life was rough but I survived and I came into 2020 tired but as we’ve been given this time secluded in our homes I’ve taken this stillness to pause, create and get in my emotional bag. So I wanna share some tips with you all that I use to release.
Tips for getting in your emotional bag:
First tip Write them down (in September of last year I did this exercise where I got a blank sheet of paper I wrote my name in the center and I wrote all the words that came to mind when I thought about my self. I also wrote a letter to each person I harbored unforgiveness towards and I tore them up lol I know what does that do if you have years of hurt and resentment I’m not a counselor or psychologist but I do know it helped me release how I was feeling. And yes I do remember the hurt from time to time and some people I’m still struggling to forgive but as my mom would say forgiveness is for you not the other person and I can’t lie and say it doesn’t feel good to acknowledge that something happened to be at the expense of someone else and be able to not feel any hurt or anger towards them.
My second tip is to read books or articles that help you develop emotionally. One of the most transformational books I’ve read regarding emotions was the
Emotionally healthy woman by Gerri Scazzero
