Being there for your kids - Don't Weigh Yourself Down

Episode Date: October 23, 2024

Emotional baggage is a reference to the issues that we've endured from our past and that threaten to define who we are in our future. It's time to dump your emotional baggage. Mentalligent psychotherapy is a means of addressing your stress and stuckness, shedding a downward spiraling, and soaring into your future on the upward spiraling of your healing journey. Mentalligent psychotherapy uses three interwoven treatment strategies to help you soar. Mindfulness sets the stage for your journey. Positive psychology changes your focus from what's wrong to what's right. Cognitive behavioral interventions clean up your personal mess and clears you to soar. Check it out.

Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let's talk about emotional baggage. You know, emotional baggage is heavy. Okay, so what is emotional baggage? Think of it as things you've gone through in the past that grab a hold of you, and you can't seem to let go of them. Their presence colors your every word, action, and relationship, and they are heavy. Usually, emotional baggage presents as issues. He has mommy issues. He has intimacy issues. He's a people-pleaser. She doesn't set good boundaries. He's a neat freak. Here's how you can let go of emotional baggage that weighs you down with such issues. First, identify and own your baggage. Most people don't even want to do this. They make excuses for why current relationships are failing or why the least little thing sets off their anger. They put their issues on others. Of course I have had relationship problems. She cheated on me. Well, I wouldn't have hit her if she hadn't mouthed off at me. With repetitive patterns, usually. your loved ones first put the spotlight on your emotional baggage. Accepting that you haven't had much success in marriage

or that your temper does get the best of you is a critical first step. Second, focus primarily on that over which you have control. Being controlling of others, even thinking that you're in control of them, is never a good sign of a healthy relationship. Fundamentally, we have no control over what others say and do. We have every control over how we respond and react to others. Finally, chart a new path of honesty and intimacy for yourself and with those whom you love. Let go of your emotional baggage.

Does that mean that it's gone? Well, no. But what it does mean is that you own it rather than it owning you. When it rears its ugly head, address it directly with those whom it impacts. We are all a work in progress. Mental intelligence psychotherapy, also known as MPT, is an excellent venue for addressing emotional baggage. After using empathy and active listening to fully understand your patient's perspective on their presenting problem, introduce them to the concept of mental intelligence.

Help her understand your role as her guide on a healing journey from downward spiraling with stress and stuckness to upward spiraling, embracing life and having it more abundantly. Guiding them in understanding and implementing mindfulness gives them perspective on the healing process. Being present and living in the now also helps them focus on that over which they have control. The past represents the burdens of emotional baggage, while the future represents the anxiety of the unknown. Focusing in therapy and in life on the present,

highlighting their now gives them freedom to be who they are without baggage or fears. Interwoven in NPT with mindful perspective are positive psychology strategies. Feelings of not good enough and low self-worth mingle with emotional baggage to increase its weight. Use Martin Seligman's Values in Action Inventory of Strengths as a resource for helping your client focus on what's right rather than ruminating on what's wrong. Help her notice how her character strengths inform her positive days.

MPT embraces cognitive behavioral strategies, along with mindfulness and positive psychology, interwoven in the fabric of change and healing. Help her move away from extreme words like all, none, always, never, should, would, could, ever, never, all of which limit her thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Behavioral prescriptions help clients stay focused on the healing process, even between therapy sessions. MPT is fully examined and applied in representative dialogue with clients in my new book, The Healing Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path of the Good Life, available at amazonbooks.com and at www.orgian.com.

Blessings, Dr. John. If these comments are questions of your own, contact me through my website at www. Thereformykid.com or email me at John Robinson 0.0.000 at bell south.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, and my new book, The Healing, The Healing, Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path of the Good Life. And this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at Amundation. Amazon Books.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.