and probably pile on some more! So, let's get reeeaaaal clear as to our objectives here:

- We're taking a good look at WHAT'S rattling our chain.
- We're letting all those bottled-up, unwanted feelings OUT.
- We're finding a way to get it all out that does not harm anyone else or affect anyone negatively.
- We're even making sure we don't create more drama around us or escalate any ongoing or tense situations.
- We're doing all this so we can hop in, grab the steering wheel, and head straight for Feel Good County with nothing holding us back!

And before we get rolling here, let's take a look at a real obvious way of getting rid of our hurt feelings and inner conflict: discussing it with anyone who might be part of the reason we feel this way. If you can sit down together and discuss what's going on with a shared hope of resolving things, then you certainly will. In order to get to that point of rational discussion, however, there are strong feelings and impulses that we need to have completely worked through. THAT is where these methods can help. And, hey, a lot of the time the idea of sitting and "working it all out" with someone simply isn't possible. Lots of times WE wanna get to peace and all they wanna do is stir the caldron. Again, these exercises help YOU get YOU back to balance and feeling good no matter what anyone else is doing.

Something happens as you put onto paper each thought, word, and idea that's been spinning in your brain in an endless loop. It seems to transfer from inside you to outside of you. Look, if a situation has been driving you bananas, it's a pretty cool trick. Give it a try. And the computer's fine, too. Some find the paper and pen do a left brain - right brain number that can't be beat so you may wanna try it both ways.

GOOD,
OLD-FASHION EMOTING

Even when we see clearly that "these things just happen sometime" or that the other guy isn't totally to blame we still have feelings. It still sucks. It still feels horrid. No amount of intellectual clarity will clear away piles of emotional garbage making a mess of everything inside us. Sometimes you just absolutely have to let it out until...

Go somewhere absolutely private. Where you're safe to say what you need to say and be as animated as you need to be without being seen, heard, or bothered. If you're able to be alone at home, just lay on the bed face down, maybe put your head in a pillow. Just start making whatever sounds FEEL like they need to come out.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
or
UUUUUUUHHHHH!
or
ANYTHING!

Even if you are completely alone, one reason it may help to make your sounds into a pillow is so that your inhibitions are not influenced by your own volume. This is about LETTING IT OUT! DO!! And do it throughly. We want these icky feelings COMPLETELY outta the way so there's room for much better ones. Just like with journalling it out, talking it out, or even exercising it out, keep emoting and sounding out your feelings until there's nothing else to come out. It is very important to come to a peaceful, relaxed place before calling it quits. Afterwards, relax completely.

Oh, and...

...be sure and give yourself plenty of time to see these exercises through to completion. At least set aside an afternoon and do not have anything you've just GOTTA DO afterward. These practices will not yield the results we're after if we feel too rushed or pressured to throughly come to peace inside. If, however, we give each practice total dedication and really, really wanna get to a place inside that feels waaaay better, then the results can be mind-blowing.

-- Rob Moore