Imagine Emotional Free Radicals...Why Neutralizing is Important

My understanding of free radicals is that they are a by-product that can cause cell damage in increased and long-lasting amounts. An imbalance of free radicals (too many) and antioxidants (not enough) leads to oxidative stress, which can lead to disease.

I believe the same thing happens when we have too much emotional stress in our bodies. An imbalance of emotional stress (too much) and peace (not enough) leads to a host of negative effects. Everything we react to leaves an by-product that can build up unless it is neutralized. 

Is road rage really about the car cutting someone off in the moment or is it a build up of what has been happening and has been stifled emotionally? There is a difference between being angry in the moment and being filled with anger. There is a difference between being afraid in the moment and living with perpetual fear. 

We are a nation of producers. We are praised for accomplishments and production. Great work, good job, hip hip hooray...What if the internal work is as important as external accomplishments? How about an emotional processing report card? What if we praised empathy, kindness and self-reflection as much as we praised good test scores and athletic abilities?

I see emotional work as something similar to solving puzzles or equations. I enjoy solving problems. Emotional work can be done the same way. 

• I feel ___ because when this happened to me it reminded me of _____ . 
• If this makes me feel ____ , the next time it happens I should remember to ____ . 
• I always get anxious when I anticipate this situation ___ , I choose to know everything will be OK.

What if each day we exercised, ate well, increased our antioxidants and processed our emotions? It seems like a good plan to me. 

xo
Conni