February Courage Pie: Uncovering the Hidden Emotions
Hello Courageous Pals,
Thanks for joining last night’s circle! If you didn’t make it, here’s a little writing & doodling from our activity for you:
We spent some time uncovering the hidden emotions (those uncomfortable feelings we all try to hide through more socially acceptable emotions rather than showing what we’re REALLY feeling!) Drawing - any embodied form of activity - helps us get out of our rational brain and into what we’re feeling. In this case, it helps us identify which uncomfortable emotions act as our triggers to cover up with other ones, and what emotions we use as our cover-ups. Then we re-joined the rational brain to reflect on what we can learn when we have the opportunity to sit with these unwelcome emotions without rushing to judge them or cover them up.
Science Behind the Slice
If you’re interested in further reading, the psychological model I used a lot in coaching is called Transactional Analysis, and the term they use for this substitution of emotions is “racket feelings.” Basically: when we find ourselves getting caught in a trap of our own making and think “oh, no, here we go again…” we’re engaging in a racket. A ‘racket’ in Transactional Analysis can also mean other kinds of emotional and relational traps, but it definitely includes the specific trap of covering up our uncomfortable feelings with ones that seem more acceptable.
Retreat Reminder
Psst: gals - if you like what we’ve been doing so far, Courage Pie: Fully Rounded will be taking place Saturday 3 - Monday 5 May at the fairy-tale-esque NourishHQ/Langcliffe Hall in the Yorkshire Dales. Find out more & reserve your spot here. Those prices include everything: Food! Stunning views! Room! All the sessions! Even if you can’t come, just check out those venue photos for a little magical boost to your day. (This time it’s for women only, but I promise I’ll do an all-gender retreat another time.)
Up Next
For March (that’ll be Tuesday 25th again) we’ll be covering either hearing your inner wise self or taming the inner critic. Or we might do a little bonus round with both; they’re sort of two sides of the same coin!
Wonderful to see you all, please do join me again next month (and bring a pal!) for another slice of Courage Pie.
Very best,
Caitlin