Did you know that the amygdala in our brain helps protect us from harm and when we are bound in the amygdala, we CANNOT LOVE or act in love! The amygdala is the feeling part of our brain that protects us. Did you know that??

All of last month we focused some emotional development tools and on TRUE CHANGE - that comes from the inside out. That unless we experience freedom in our spiritual life, addressing the other areas will just act as a band-aid. Yeshua is the only one who brings true, lasting change.

This whole month we are focusing on breathing life into our spirit - which is where the foundation of our wellness lies. We dove in deep with:

• How to experience true, lasting change

• A new way to experience Immanuel "God With Us" through interactive journaling

• Delving into attachment styles so that we can experience true connection with others

• Naming the BIG SIX and what they can do for us

• NOW how we are continuing to discuss how to return to joy when we are stuck in one of the BIG SIX

Did anyone experience the big SIX emotions this week - maybe even this morning?

Anyone experience:

• Sadness

• Anger

• Fear

• Shame

• Disgust

• Hopeless despair

Have you ever been stuck in one of these emotions?

"You can't be spiritually mature unless you are emotionally mature," The Bible says "They will know us by our love”.

We can't love God or others when we get STUCK in one of these BIG SIX emotions.

So how do we get unstuck?  Return to JOY?

1st - "The thing is not the thing."

We, as followers of Yeshua, are called to regulate these emotions by the power of Holy Spirit. That’s God Spirit that lives within every person who has given their lives to Yeshua.

Recognize we are experiencing a big emotion - call it out! Let's not deny the existence of the emotion. Get perspective. Be open to the possibility that we can be out of it. Invite God into the situation. He exists and He cares. It can simply be "God, would you help me?" Give appreciation or gratitude. Remember a  story of how you were able to recover from a negative emotion. It gives us hope. Name the emotion and share it with someone else.

When you tell YOUR story to others at least three times, it synchronizes the left & right brain!

I'm going to share my story of SHAME. It's a simple one, but it shows you these steps and how I returned to joy.

I was in college in Oklahoma and getting ready to apply for graduate school. I had decided in 5th grade after reading a book that I wanted to be a speech pathologist like the woman in the book I read, called “Lovey”. I applied to 5 different schools and I got rejected by every single one, while my roommates were getting accepted to all the schools they applied to! I remember feeling sadness and shame and hopeless despair. I remember my body feeling heavy and I wanted to hide and not even see my roommates. I questioned “what am I going to do with my life? I thought this is what I was supposed to do!” I remember going out on to the porch, opening my Bible and inviting God into the situation. I asked Him, “what is going on?” I don’t remember what I read but I asked for some perspective. I decided to return home and live with my parents (which also brought some shame) for a year. I remember what God called me to do and so I started re-applying. I retook the GRE test to possible up my scores in hopes that would help (I ended up getting the exact same score!). I remember the day I went to take the GRE again in this little building. I signed in to take the test and then sat in the waiting room for the test to start. It was so quiet and cold. It brought me back to my place of shame. I was so in my head and praying. But then I looked up and, in the chair, next to me was someone with a jacket and a hood. The person looked at me and said “This is for you” and motioned to the devotional book that was in hand. I remember taking it and reading it and being totally absorbed in this message from God just for me. I looked up to say "thank you" and there was no one there! When I was called into the testing room, I looked for the person in the hoodie and with no trace. No one was in the waiting room after either! I fully believe the person in the hoodie was an angel sent to me to encourage me to stay on the right path. That I WAS on the right path. And because of this, I returned to JOY!

That following year I applied to the exact same 5 schools with the same score and I got into all 5 schools! God used that year to shape and mold me and teach me lessons to help others.

I would love for you to share with me how you work through one of those BIG SIX emotions! Comment or message me to tell me your story!

Did you know that I do personalized wellness calls? 15 min call designed to discover where you are and where you want to go in health & wellness. Some families want to talk about how to live with less stress. Others want to get off their meds and get more relief. Some want to learn how to take small shifts and develop new, healthier habits. Whatever your need, I have a time spot for you!

So... do you want to chat? Let's schedule a personal one on one call today!

Watch the full video here: