The health of the bacteria in your gut plays a crucial role in overall well-being, particularly in aiding digestion. The presence of trillions of microbiomes in the gut can either help or hinder the digestion process depending on their interest in the food you consume. Maintaining a balanced gut environment is essential for maximizing the benefits derived from your diet.
Microbiomes, tiny nonhuman cells residing in our bodies, are integral to our health, providing essential vitamins and energy from foods we couldn't otherwise process. These cells live symbiotically with us, thriving in the conditions our bodies provide while offering us necessary nutrients. However, an imbalance can lead to harmful effects, such as an overgrowth of yeast causing sugar cravings.
Understanding the gut's microbial universe is vital as it influences not just physical health but also emotional states. Research has begun to uncover links between gut health and conditions like anxiety and depression, suggesting a significant gut-brain connection. Encouraging a healthy gut microbiome through diet and awareness can be a foundational step towards a healthier, more productive life.
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It's bad advice to tell someone that they should "get over" the way they feel. Perhaps people mean well by saying it. They want to be encouraging and helpful. It might also be that they are just being mean. I think we can do better than that though, if we want to help others.
One reason the advice to "get over it" is bad is because it implies that the person with the feelings just doesn't WANT to get over it. That's usually not true. Although it is entirely possible that some part of their brains may actually WANT to hold on to the negative feelings, we don't consciously choose the painful emotions. In fact, when people have uncontrolled negative emotions, those feelings often seem to choose them, not the other way around.
Another reason that advice is inappropriate is because it does nothing to tell them how that might happen.
Yet, we see people who endure similar struggles who "get over it". So, how is that possible? I suggest that these people have trained themselves in emotions management. It's not that they never have the emotions. When they feel them, they deal with them in a way that is healthy and produces strength. If someone is never taught how to do that, it can seem like there is a "magic button" that other people can push in themselves and move forward. People who cannot control their negative emotions often feel like they are missing something important in their makeup. This makes matters worse for them because sometimes they might learn to be helpless (as if they have no choice but to be that way).
If you experience overwhelming emotions, there is a way you can train yourself to manage them better. It will take time, but you can begin to see results very quickly with a little practice. The alternative to trying this is to continue to have your emotions run your life.
The "secret button" people push is not a button at all. It's not about making yourself stop feeling something. It's all about REPLACEMENT. And that can be done in four steps.
Four Steps to Shift Your Emotions
- Identify and name the emotion you want to replace.
- Logically explain the emotion you are feeling. That is, recognize why that emotion is valid. Be specific.
- Expand your thinking to include a bigger picture of your circumstances. This can be done by considering the perceptions of others, or by considering the perception of God looking at your situation. (This is where faith comes in and helps you see life in a broader perspective and meaning.)
- Based on that bigger picture, find an alternative emotion to focus on that could naturally grow from that perspective. Think about that every time you feel the negative emotion. At first it will be a weak emotion. That's OK! The next time the negative emotion comes you will think on the bigger picture. After doing that for a while, you will notice that the negative emotion is not as strong, and the positive one is beginning to take root.
I don't want to over-simplify things. This is not exactly easy to accomplish, but the process will help if you stay with it.
Comment below if you can add other ideas to this or want to reach out and get some help putting this into practice!
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
As the old gospel hymn states, "Times are filled with swift transitions; naught on earth unmoved can stand." We see this truth more today than perhaps ever before! With change come strong emotions some good and some bad.
How is it that we can navigate the changes we see? Let's face this important question and consider ways to navigate our emotions in the best ways.
Understanding Change-Related Emotions
We tend to respond to transition and change in similar, predictable ways. Because of this, we can prepare for situations and emotions before we face them, allowing us to have greater control over ourselves and avoid harming ourselves (or others) when our emotions get the best of us.Generally speaking, we will face a natural cycle related to grief and loss when changes come. Even if the change is good for us, transition implies some type of loss.
We tend to want to hold on to the familiar, even at great cost to ourselves. We typically don't like change. We grieve over the loss even while facing better times in our future.
We have an incredible power as humans to want to hold on to the familiar over the unknown. As some have stated it, "The devil you know is better than the devil you don't." It speaks of our fear of change being worse than where we are coming from. This is part of mourning. We're losing familiar routines, mastery of situations we faced, relationships, social dynamics, etc.
We will also face both excitement and fear. Our minds often don't like change. We have to learn new routines and ideas. Even though the transition might be the best possible action for us, new places ad routines require more energy and focus. Not only that but we have enough experience to know that many things that look promising are full of pain instead. "The grass is always greener" implies that we know our minds can trick us into thinking the transition is good for us, but we also fear that we could be wrong!
If you are growing, there is going to be transformation in your life. Learning how you tend to react to it is a great way to prepare yourself so that your changes are the most productive they can be.
Recognizing Your Emotional Patterns
Identifying your personal "triggers" will help you navigate change. This simply means we learn to be more self-aware. Paying attention to your emotions and even signs your body is giving you will provide clues to how you are doing. Noticing small changes in mood, for example, can alert you to unhealthy habits that are returning before they have the chance to manifest in your behavior.You should know the attitudes and situations that tend to "trigger" you. Identify potential triggers and prepare for ways to avoid them. Also create a plan if you cannot avoid the situations. Remember, everyone has triggers and you are responsible for controlling yours. It's not anyone else's job to avoid your triggers.
Ask good questions to help you learn more about yourself. This is the first step in learning to mitigate the emotions that come along with change.
- How have you responded to situations of change in your past?
- What actions or thoughts were most successful in helping you navigate and control your emotions?
- What can I do to make this time of change work best for everyone (including me)?
- In this situation, what pace should I take in the transition?
These types of questions can help you tremendously.
Practical Strategies for Emotional Navigation
It's important to develop strategies. Here are some related tips.- Develop Emotional Resilience
A good start to this is to name the emotions you are feeling. Admitting them, naming them, gives you power to change and control them.
You also can learn to recognize when you are resisting change. Ask yourself why you are doing it and be honest with yourself about the answer. This will include naming any emotions present.
Your reactions to change are completely natural. Everyone must take stock of themselves and identify what they are experiencing, not to wallow in the emotions but to be able to control them. remember, emotions are terrible masters but incredible tools. Use them to your advantage or change them into something worthwhile! - Use Healthy Coping Mechanisms
One of the best ways to create great coping mechanisms is to develop new routines and keep the old ones that are possible to maintain.
Finding healthy ways to express emotions is also important. That can come from talking to friends and family, prayer, or even writing them down.
It's important to stay grounded too. That is, be "present" as much as possible. Awareness will help you build familiarity faster and provide the means to make your changes more worthwhile and healthier.
By practicing mindfulness, you will also be able to reduce the stress of your changes while learning to see and appreciate the good you see in the new situation you find yourself in. - Find Stability in Change
Change is inevitable but that does not mean ALL your life will change. It's smart to think clearly about your current habits and routines and note those that will not change. You can still find things to do that are familiar, and this will help you navigate the change in a positive way with less stress. You can also try to make your surroundings more familiar with elements that carry over from the previous place you were. - Build Support Systems
Another healthy option is to immediately begin to reach out to create support by getting to know others who have made similar changes. Share your experiences and encourage them to share theirs. This mutual sharing can impact you greatly in positive ways. - Reframe
Determine to see your change as growth and not simply change. Our brains may not like change, but it will accept it much easier as growth. You can do this by looking for the meaning in your time of transition. Assign meaning to it that is appropriate, insightful, and positive.
This one skill will help you find lessons in everything you face in life!
Changes Will Always Come
There is no reason to resist change because it is a part of life. But that does not mean you have to be a "victim" of change! You can navigate your emotions and lead yourself into better habits that will reap dividends far into your future.
What changes have you faced recently? Share how you coped either by demonstrating how the points above helped you, or by giving other pieces of advice in the comments!
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
The sun cannot shine every day. There will be times when you need to take a break and rest even if you don't know why.
Your body knows when you need to rest, and it will let you know. You can listen or ignore it, but you won't ignore it for long. It will remind you that you have limitations, and the reminder won't come at an opportune time.
Your spiritual life is similar. Be strong but use self-awareness. You cannot do or be everything. Be patient, forgiving, and persistent while understanding your limitations.
Expect some down time. I'm not talking specifically about sin, although it will happen. I'm talking about those times when your faith is not so strong. When you feel weak and discouraged. It's all part of the process. That does not mean it's unimportant though. These down times must be anticipated so that you can learn to get through them the best ways possible.
Depending on the kind of situation, you might need one or all (or more) of these things in your life.
- Increase time in prayer.
- Read the Bible more.
- Spend more time in worship.
- Spend more time with close Christian friends.
- Spend time alone.
- Find a healthy "distraction".
- Call a mentor or ask someone to be a mentor.
- Go exercise. Go for a walk or bike ride.
Prepare in advance for the inevitable times you just aren't up to the challenges of life. You know they are coming, and you probably know how to get through them.
Comment below your own advice for getting through these times!
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
Sometimes we might think that (since we are saved by God's grace) He does not care about the good things we do. Some even use Isaiah 64:6 out of context to say that even our good deeds are "filthy rags" to Him. If this were true it would be devastatingly discouraging!
When trying to encourage Christians to remain true to the faith that they professed, the writer of the book of Hebrews said, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" (Hebrews 6:10). This means that the things we choose to do MATTER to God!
People have no doubt that God pays attention to the bad things they do, but they rarely talk about the fact that He also notices the GOOD that we do. Maybe we should talk about that more.
What good things will God see you doing today?
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
