Emotional alchemy

Carla Cook, MSW, LCSW.

Did you know you are an alchemist? Just like ancient alchemists tried to transmute lead into gold, we all have the natural ability to turn moments of emotional distress into gratitude.

We all, as human beings, experience a wide-range of emotions. Sometimes, we struggle with emotions such as anger, grief and sadness. It can be useful to have a way to perceive things that would allow us to honor our emotions and use them to move to a more comfortable way of being. This is the concept of emotional alchemy.

The first part of the process is to recognize that our feelings are important messengers. Uncomfortable feelings are there to get our attention and provide us with information. Are you feeling angry? What is underneath the anger? Anger is often a reaction to primary emotions like fear, sadness or loss, which can make us feel vulnerable and out of control. If we pause, breathe and examine our feelings we allow ourselves to observe the root of the problem so that we can more effectively address it.

We live in a world where we are frequently encouraged to push down our feelings to function, but this does not serve us. Many people use substances such as drugs or alcohol so that they do not have to feel their feelings. Anesthetizing our feelings diminishes our ability to access our inner voice and limits our ability to benefit from our internal messengers. We need to pause, breathe and allow ourselves to explore what our messengers are trying to tell us and what the underlying information might be. By doing so, we can more clearly see the patterns surrounding the emotions we find so distressing.

The second part of the process involves focusing on our breath to bring ourselves into the moment so that we can observe what is happening. That moment of pause is so powerful – it allows us to respond instead of reacting. It gives us power over how we think, feel, and behave. We can then use the energy of emotion to promote positive action and make any beneficial changes. We have the power to choose to perceive our emotions and messages as the beginning of a pathway, allowing us to experience all of life and to strive for a balance that supports our ability to live more healthily, happily and harmoniously and to explore our full potential as human beings.

Using our emotions resourcefully is one of the numerous ways we can nurture positive inner transformation, our powerful personal alchemy. Being able to identify and collaborate with these messengers allows our inner emotional alchemy to arise. Sometimes the meaning of the messages can be difficult to understand, and there are many avenues of help to explore. Healing Solutions Family Therapy Center is available to support your alchemical journey of discovery and accepts most major insurance plans. We offer in-person and telehealth therapy. (661) 903-8822.

Carla Cook is a Clinical Supervisor at Healing Solutions Family Therapy Center.