Take the “E” Out of Emotion and Get Moving

Happy #mentalhealthmonday!

I heard this quote recently and it was like a lightbulb that went off above my head. It was an ah-hah moment of self care, motivation, mental health, and much more. Something so simple as removing just a single letter from a word can change it so drastically. Putting your body (and mind) into motion can change so much about you down to the cellular level!

I am not negating the power of sleep, especially good sleep. Sleep is incredibly important for our brains to recharge, as well as our bodies. Our entire selves heal during sleep. We must listen to our natural rhythms. But when we feel at our lowest, darkest – that is the time that no one else can be in control of us. This is true really all of the time, but it is hugely important to NOT continue the cycle of lowness. 

Imagine yourself as a hamster in a wheel. This wheel although you have it moving, is moving slowly… very slowly. You in your mind, are traveling from the kitchen for ice cream, to the couch, to the bed – over and over again. This could be due to depression, anxiety, mental disorders such as agoraphobia, PTSD, BPD, or others. Believe me, I can say this because I have been there – I get it. And in the moment, it seems ok! Life seems like it will get better, you will eventually be back to normal. This too shall pass, right? Except for one thing. This wheel that you are on, is not going to stop, no matter how slow you can get it. Because no matter how much you lay in bed, and shuffle into the kitchen for more ice cream (or whatever your secret snack is) it’s a cycle. You have to break that cycle, and that requires jumping off the wheel. No one is going to pull you off that wheel, I was looking for someone for a long time. That just made me even more upset, and depressed. So I had to decide to do it myself. 

One morning I woke up and I thought, ‘This is going to be the day I want to go for a run’… and off I went. Suddenly, I felt this weird feeling. This, dare I say, happiness?! I found my storage of dopamine hidden somewhere! I got off my slow moving wheel of emotions and just got in motion. 

I’m gonna throw some quotes at you here.
“An object at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, remains in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by a net external force.” That is Newton’s First Law, or AKA The Law of Inertia. Simply put, if you stay put, you will stay put. If you start moving, the only thing that can stop you, is you (or a wall).

Next, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” Also true. Now, we aren’t focusing on murder in this Blog, but it does still mean something. Let’s focus on what Elle Woods from Legally Blonde means in the first two sentences. Exercise (get moving!) gives you endorphins, and those make you happy. That’s true.

From my personal experience, the more I got up and did at least something, I felt better. One day it might be going for a run, the next day it might be yoga, the next day it might even be something as “silly” as getting up and telling myself ‘self, start cleaning’. Once I got in the zone, there was no stopping me. But I had to do that pretty much right away, or at least set a plan to do it that day. I found that helped. If not, I let myself and allowed myself to fall quote-unquote victim to my own thoughts and distaste for myself and even others that I was around. Maybe that was or is my BPD, maybe it was my addiction, maybe both. So I have made this a point recently and have even made a self-care movement calendar to give myself the opportunity to focus on my dopamine and endorphin levels each day. Because that is what it is – it is an opportunity. It’s a beautiful opportunity. Some people don’t have that opportunity; and if you do, please take it. Please be grateful for it. Whether you’re inside because of bad weather one day or one week, or whether you get to get outside 365 days of the year, grant yourself the opportunity to take the E out of your emotions from here on out and release them as you start moving and get in motion. 

Before I close out – I will say, we ALL have emotions and that’s OK! Emotions are healthy. Bad days make good days seem better. Everyone has them and I’m not saying it’s not ok to cry or get angry. It’s definitely ok to do that. a) as long as it’s done in a healthy space and b) as long as you recognize that it shall pass, and it’s not a long term thing. If it is a long term emotion, I do encourage you to seek help. I did, and there’s absolutely no (none, zilch, zero, aucun, nada) reason for you to be ashamed. It’s a brave and honorable thing really. If you have questions about locating a specialist in your area, I’m happy to help source for you. Please comment. 

Let’s make a plan together to at LEAST start 2024 off by TRYING to take the E out of Emotion and Get in Motion!

The goal of these blogs is to set intentions and to manifest a beautiful and purposeful life! To find beauty in the ugliest of places and to find light in the darkest.
Come with me on this journey as we discover a pathway to healing, health, purpose and joy!
And remember: Don’t take life too seriously, no one gets out alive!