If emotional wounds showed up on our bodies the same way physical ones do, we’d take them a lot more seriously.⁣⁣⁣

⁣ ⁣⁣⁣

That’s why I believe that emotional health is a metric of wellness just as critical as mental and physical health.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

It’s also why I think it’s vital to be empathetic toward others. We never know exactly what other people are going through… and we’re more connected than we know.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

Empathy is a practice, and it’s also a muscle we can strengthen. By being curious about **our own** emotions, we can start to develop deeper compassion for other people.⁣

⁣ ⁣⁣⁣

One way to cultivate curiosity about your own feelings is to simply allow yourself to feel them. Next time a strong feeling comes up – positive or negative – resist the urge to “numb” in response. Scrolling on Instagram, for example. 😉 In all seriousness though, most of us don’t wish to linger in anger, fear, or sadness…but some people find it difficult to register positivity, like a compliment. Whatever the feeling is, I challenge you not to chase it away, but to simply notice it.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

I’m realizing that the more curiosity I have for myself and my feelings, the more space I have to feel empathy for others…to listen to them, to connect, to be with them in the moment. ⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

What about you guys? Do you have an emotional health practice or ritual? 🌸