Interesting post... as a spiritual director I often will hear people I'm sitting with say "I don't usually cry but I always seem to cry here". I imagine therapy is similar for many--that safe enough space to finally feel some of the emotions that have been held back. But I agree with your wondering of how can the places we exist--live, work, even our homes--be safe enough to not fragment ourselves from our emotions. I'm about to present on integration using the Enneagram so your post feels timely as I consider the value of integration (for so many reasons).
Thanks Lori! I can see how spiritual direction and therapy would both be so valuable for that. I was also reading (I think in Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price) about how helpful free writing can be, just a totally nonjudgmental space to put to words what we're feeling. And then maybe as we re-learn how to feel our feelings we can bring some of this real-ness into other spaces with us... appreciate you!
Interesting post... as a spiritual director I often will hear people I'm sitting with say "I don't usually cry but I always seem to cry here". I imagine therapy is similar for many--that safe enough space to finally feel some of the emotions that have been held back. But I agree with your wondering of how can the places we exist--live, work, even our homes--be safe enough to not fragment ourselves from our emotions. I'm about to present on integration using the Enneagram so your post feels timely as I consider the value of integration (for so many reasons).
Thanks Lori! I can see how spiritual direction and therapy would both be so valuable for that. I was also reading (I think in Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price) about how helpful free writing can be, just a totally nonjudgmental space to put to words what we're feeling. And then maybe as we re-learn how to feel our feelings we can bring some of this real-ness into other spaces with us... appreciate you!