My Business name “Honor Your Emotions” came to me one day while I was out with my best friend in New York.
As usual, we were discussing our romantic encounters and the roller coaster of emotions that often followed, and I was just tired of FEELING everything that came with roller coaster relationships.
I specifically recall discussing how I hated I always overreacted and seemed to experience my emotions so intensely in my body. I would lose my appetite, couldn’t sleep, exhibited rageful rants/behaviors, and tension in my shoulders…you name it – I felt it.
I know some of you can relate.
It was just EXHAUSTING because it would go on for hours or days.
THANK YOU, JESUS, for growth, maturity, and awareness.
A few days later, I was in my grad school class and my professor was talking about how making practical decisions didn’t have to involve our emotions. His statement “didn’t have to involve our emotions” stood out to me.
Because for the first time, I had a revelation. What I was experiencing in my emotions was optional. While I had no control over what emotion would be elicited…I did have total control over how I acted them out. Let me explain this a little more.
For years, I was confused and thought that “emotions” were the blame for everything. I often watched many people in my life act out in ways that I thought were normal. I blamed their reactions and behaviors on their emotions, making it normal and even expected. Not recognizing that their reactions were choices. We chose to act out our feelings, either positive or negative. It’s not the emotion(s) themselves prompting negative reactions/behaviors.
After my class, I decided I would respect whatever emotions I felt. I would notice them, feel them in the body, acknowledge them, and honor them. I told myself I would not make my emotions the enemy, blame them, or let them boss me around. All I needed to do was honor my emotions first. Then make more practical decisions that didn’t use up so much of my time or energy.
After becoming a licensed therapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (which focuses on how your thoughts, affect your mood, and your decisions), it only felt right for me to call my business something that helped me become a better version of myself.
Now becoming the best version of yourself is constant work. We are all in process and it is not always easy, but it’s worth it.
My hope is that you learn to “Honor Your Emotions”, and not allow them to boss you around as well.
Enjoy your day beautiful people,
Tangia