Emotional baggage

Emotional baggage is an everyday expression that correlates with many varied but similar concepts within social sciences, self-help movements, and other fields: its general concern is with unresolved issues of an emotional nature, often with an implication that the emotional baggage is detrimental.

Emotional baggage is defined as a metaphorical image, it is that of carrying all the disappointments, wrongs, and traumaof the past around with one in a heavy load.^{[1] Wikipedia} 

^{How to unload your emotional baggage:}

^{1. Deal with anger and resentment if it's in the past focus on the here and now, express anger through journaling, talking about trauma, seeking counseling for  childhood abuse or negative experiences  or neglect, or finding a support group. I let go of anger by running I have finished 6 half marathons and while I am very slow, I always finish.  I run my next one in December!} 

^{2. Set small goals for cleaning out clutter or disorganized spaces in your home. Think one room at a time and learn to let go, burn, donate, give away, sell on eBay. every few months I take a laundry basket and label them with my 3 kids: "keep, donate, trash". They willingly always have more to donate than if I was to go in their play room or room and choose by myself. The theory is don't hold on to physical things that hold deep emotional ties. Don't allow clutter in a closet or a room to keep you psychologically stuck or paralyzed. Clean the clutter and clean your mind. If you can let go physically, then you can let go emotionally and psychologically.}

^{3. Forgive people for their actions, words, don't hold onto others mistakes and misfortune. As easy as it may sound it's difficult. If it's a child perpetrator who abused you or maybe your child- work through forgiveness with a counselor or pastor, forgiving allows you to feel free of the burden and emotional attachment you have with that person and their wrong doings.forgiveness allows you to let go and feel freer.} 

^{4. Take control of your present well being. let the past be the past by accepting you can't control it and focus on what you can control; your mood, healthy choices in food, exercising, self-care, booking a massage or a trip or lunch with a friend.}

^{5. SEEK PEACE-  we live in a spiritual world just as much as we live in a physical world. Seek help from your religious community, pray for your Peace and the peace of the world around you. pray for a peaceful and humble heart daily, I seek peace in relationships, environments, interactions and parenting my children, I want to model peace so that my children learn and grow to be peace seeking and peace holding people. With peace we are emotionally free and our ties are broken from bondage.}

Lastly, For the future Set boundaries. start by declining birthday parties, say no to your co-workers who ask you to do more, clear your Schedule by saying no to more obligations, more commitments and start saying yes to the relationships around you set time apart to be together and play games or watch movies. Every Friday night in my house it's pizza-pj -movie-popcorn night as a whole family! 

Set boundaries with buying more and start giving more - living freer, asking at your child's birthday to donate to a special cause your child is interested in or ask for toys or coats or shoes donation to take to a local women and children's  shelter. 

Take the emotional baggage tying you up and keeping you stuck and cut it,unwrap it and break free. 

Playful blessings:

Brooke west Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S