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When exhausted from heavy demand, our brains slow. These are critical moments in relationships; successful navigation of heavy social demands requires a well-functioning brain. We stumble when normal mental skills are unavailable. We say and do things that ordinarily we could easily suppress or avoid. Accordingly, we should prepare for these taxing moments of mental fatigue by developing a deeper awareness of emotional states.
Human Limitations
We are subjected to limitations by our humanness, harshly expecting more than biology allows damages self-confidence and injures relationships. We must have compassion, peacefully accepting weakness, and move forward by repairing damage, and rebuilding closeness.
“Suppressing your anger is okay if you are able to redirect or convert it to something positive. You can learn to change your anger into something more constructive or positive, such as exercise, by going for a jog or working out…”
~Samantha Dewitt
Over the last two months, I spent three weeks at my parent’s house, moving them from their small southern desert town to a larger city. My dad has Alzheimer’s, and the resources in his small town were insufficient. Moving is stressful—for everybody. But for people in their eighties, the stress is almost inconceivable, sorting through a lifetime of memories, deciding what to keep and what to discard is stressful, causing mental fatigue and impairing normal functioning, and emotional regulation abilities.
“We must have compassion, peacefully accepting weakness, and moving forward by repairing damage, and rebuilding closeness.”
~T. Franklin Murphy
A Mindful Approach
Life is beautiful; but also, cruel. I watched in sorrow as my loving mother lost full command of her reactions. I only partially avoided the minefields of explosive emotions. Basically, I had a choice. I could spit meanness back to protect my ego or soothe the hurt in a more productive manner. By allowing for her emotional expressions, and then seeking healthy reconciliation at a later time, I was able to preserve the relationship. Logic clearly points to the latter solution; emotional sensitivities prefers the tactic of defensive protections.
When blind to underlying contributors, we respond harshly to stress. However, compassion is a better choice. During trying moments, our energy to calmly suppress reactive protections isn’t always available. We can guard against those trying moments when we can predict incoming intense emotions. With advance notice, we can step back, limiting the devastating impact, providing time to objectively observe the underlying forces, and mindfully reflect on the totality of circumstances. This is the mindful approach. This is emotional intelligence and maturity. However, this is not always possible.
Without a mindful approach, we get sucked into the drama, becoming part of the destructive cycle, adding to the stress. We can do better. We can bring calmness to these storms and healing to burdened souls.
Intentional Intervention
As partners, parents, children and friends, we must bring wisdom to intense interactions. With appreciation for the biological functions of beautiful minds, we can organize the chaos and respond effectively, building emotional stability and bonding hearts. We can sing the redeeming tune of safety, bringing security instead of fear. And when we fail, we can repair with sorrow for the hurt.
Slow down and step away. By escaping the direct impact of emotion, we can navigate an approaching melt-down, and objectively observe the wondrous powers flowing through both body and mind. We then stand on firm ground to move forward with wisdom, protecting valuable relationships by responding with tenderness.
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