Emotional Survival 101

Emotional Survival 101
by Sunny Massad

When I was young, like so many people, I developed strategies to emotionally survive. I conjured a tough persona so that no one would know how truly sensitive and vulnerable I really was. But I discovered that the very strategy that I developed to free me and to keep me safe, actually threw me into emotional bondage. While my intention was to protect my heart from pain, I ended up isolated and alone because I was unable and unwilling to let anyone in.

If you cannot express how you feel or what you believe to someone because you are afraid of their response, you are allowing yourself to be controlled by your own fear. If you have been swallowing your feelings to protect the feelings of others, ask yourself what are you really afraid of? You deserve to be respected for your opinions. But how will anyone ever know who you really are if you do not risk showing them?

If you want to live an authentic, soul-directed life, you will have to stop trying to manipulate others to like and approve of you. You will need to allow them to have their own feelings even if those feelings include disappointment, hurt or anger. When you relinquish control, you will be emotionally free, your heart will sing, and creativity will flow! If people in your life leave you because you are being authentic, they are not kindred spirits. In your authenticity, you will find others who vibrate at the same frequency as you and you will finally be able to experience authentic intimacy.

If you want to explore this subject more deeply, join me on Monday, February 2, for the first of the series of free workshops entitled Coping Skills for Trying Times, followed by a $25 support group for anyone who wants to work experientially. Mark your calendars and call the Hawaii Wellness Institute for reservations at 848-5544. Space is limited, advance registration is recommended.

The location of the following FREE lectures and experiential workshops is the ING Direct Cafe building at 1958 Kalakaua Avenue. If the ING parking lot is full, there is inexpensive paid parking across the street in the old Jack in the Box lot.

Week 1
Emotional Survival 101: Monday, February 2 , 5:30 - 6:15 pm FREE
Learn how to calm your mind, change your feelings, and take charge of your emotional state.
Emotional Survival 101 Motivational Support Group: Monday, February 2, 6:30 - 8:00pm $25
Put what you learned in the free lecture into practice with self-reflection exercises and
experiential learning opportunities.


Week 2
Controlling Anxiety and Insomnia: Monday, February 9, 5:30 - 6:15pm FREE
Learn how to identify and reverse the thoughts that create anxiety and consider alternatives to prescription sleep aids, including self-hypnosis.
Controlling Anxiety and Insomnia Motivational Support Group: Monday, February 9, 6:30-8:00 $25
Take the opportunity to work with your specific issues in a group setting and learn effective strategies used by others.

Week 3
Managing Your Life Compassionately: Tuesday, February 17 , 5:30 - 6:15pm FREE
Learn how to reverse self-sabotaging behaviors by practicing self-care so that you can function more optimally to meet your responsibilities.
Managing Your Life Compassionately Motivational Support Group: Monday, February 16, 6:30-8:00 pm $25
If you don't take good care of your body, join us to get to the root of the self-neglect so that you can become motivated to be and do better.


Week 4
Expanding Your Comfort Zone: Monday, February 23 , 5:30-6:15pm FREE
Learn how to make difficult and scary behaviors safer and more comfortable so you can stretch yourself to do new things.
Expanding Your Comfort Zone Motivational Support Group: Monday, February 23, 6:30-8:00pm $25
You will work privately to identify and resolve the fears that keep you from "living bigger."


Week 5
Turning Apathy into Action: Monday, March 2, 5:30 - 6:15pm FREE
Learn how to lift depression, motivate yourself to get out of a rut, and restore your passion for life.
Turning Apathy into Action Motivational Support Group: Monday, March 2, 6:30 - 8:00pm $25
If you have a habit of procrastinating and you are ready to reverse the habit, this workshop will assist you in creating a plan that works for your own timeline.