“To lead emotions effectively, you can focus on them, befriend them, and invite Jesus to be near — then unburden them and integrate them with the other parts of your soul. We call this process taking a You-Turn.”- Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller
“First, take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”- Matthew 7:5 (NIV)
Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller continue Chapter 1 of Boundaries for Your Soul as the relate how to know when painful emotions are too near or too far. Thus, when you’re too close to painful emotions, you might express feeling like a victim, martyr, or hopeless. Conversely, when you’re too far from painful emotions, you tend to blame others, avoid the subject, or deny reality.
Most noteworthy, the authors state, living with close painful feelings robs you of confidence and joy. On the other hand, when you keep painful feelings far away, you disown important gifts that those feelings offer you. Furthermore, denied emotions don’t really vanish. Rather, the authors caution, they reappear in even more harmful ways.
Therefore, to lead emotions effectively, Alison and Kimberly observe, focus on them and befriend them. Most of all, invite Jesus to be near. Next, unburden and integrate your painful emotions with the other parts of your soul. The authors refer to this as taking a You-Turn.
Finally, when conflict detonates a frenzy of emotion, we tend to express one natural response. We become reactive and accuse the other person. As a result, Jesus addressed this tendency to blame others in His Sermon on the Mount. Specifically, Jesus challenged others to work on their personal growth (see Matthew 7:5). For Jesus desires that you get to know the state of your soul.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you take a You-Turn to lead your emotions effectively? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Undesirable inclinations- allies or problems?”
