Summer - the time of holidays, festivals and fun in general. However, emotionally it’s not always as straight forward. I’ve been on the most beautiful vacations in the past and all of the sudden anxiety and stress appeared. Have they really just appeared or did I finally stopped and was able to listen to my body? I’m convinced it’s the latter. It’s very common to get sick or start feeling those uncomfortable emotions when we finally let go and have enough space to look what is actually happening in our body, mind and soul.
So here are some ideas on how to cope if difficult emotions appear on your vacation or staycation.
This is normal.
I don’t know about you but when I was for example in Mexico and started feeling anxiety and stress I thought right away that there is something wrong with me. I felt that I shouldn’t feel bad because I’m in such beautiful surroundings and I should be feeling grateful. Whatever we are feeling in any moment is absolutely fine. Accepting ourselves and our emotions is the first step we must take to free ourselves from those emotions. Additionally, many people feel uncomfortable emotions when they take time off so this is absolutely normal.
Welcome your emotions.
Welcome your emotions as guests but when the guest overstays its welcome it’s time to move them along. If you are able to do it, entertain your guest, ask why it’s here, what it wants and needs. This can start a wonderful journey of discovery and healing. Sometimes all we need is the awareness or those emotions, sometimes we need to talk them thru, heal them, maybe even apply healing practices such as yoga or meditation. But always treat your guest with as much love, kindness and gentleness as possible.
Move your emotions.
If the guest overstays it’s welcome move it along. The best way to move your emotions is thru movement such as yoga, run, dance or any other physical activity. But it’s important to find the right time to do it. If you move it too fast you may lose opportunity to transform that emotion and heal it. If you move it too late it can spoil your holidays or even lead to depression or anxiety.
You are in charge, not your emotions.
Whether you choose to transform and heal or put your emotions to the side and deal with them later - it’s your conscious choice. Be in charge of your mind, your mind is your servant not your master. However, it’s difficult to be in charge in a stressful situation is you are never in charge otherwise. Which is why we meditate! When we are meditation, we are giving our mind simple instructions to follow so mind get’s used to idea who is in charge. So meditate regularly :-)
Support.
You don’t need to do it all by yourself. Talk to your friends, family maybe even a therapists if you need a professional help. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure it all out by ourselves. Reaching out can create stronger relationships and helps to find solutions faster. Maybe support could be a book or a walk in nature? Find the support that works for you.
I feel that difficult emotions on holidays are little bit like the elephant in the room, so I hope this brought a bit more ease and peace to you. Maybe you won’t need it this time when you go on holiday but if you are feeling some uncomfortable feeling when you are off, remember this is normal and ‘this too shall pass’.