Are you a Tough cookie?

Do people around you say you need to be tougher? 

Personally, it brings up some unhelpful messages about how we shouldn't let things bother us, and that we mustn't express or show our emotions. This is a common thing with many male clients I work with. They are often concerned about what it says about them.

If we consider toughness for the physical body, you might work out to gain strength. 

Mental toughness is a phrase pushed in today's world. The ability to stay focused, motivated, and resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks. Mentally tough men are said to be able to handle stress, pressure, and uncertainty with grace and confidence, and they can push themselves beyond their limits. 

It can be strengthened but alone is not enough. When we are not able to share these feelings with others because of how we are seen. It can create a recipe for anxiety and depression.

When we hold on to emotions, we are often not processing and releasing them healthily. Much like a bin for household rubbish, an emotional bin can help to offer us some headspace from anything that is holding us back. If it is not emptied regularly. When this happens, it can lead to emotional and mental exhaustion, negative thought patterns, and even physical health problems.

It’s important to acknowledge and process your emotions healthily.

Take one piece of rubbish at a time 
We are human, and we have limits we wouldn't expect someone to complete a marathon without training first right? then why it is we get caught up in trying to do everything all at once. It's ok to break things down in more manageable ways.

Who is in our corner?
 Life gets sticky, When we have a strong support system, we are better equipped to handle setbacks and challenges. The encouragement and validation offered by friends, family and professionals help us work through these stressful situations and navigate difficult feelings. 
Drop the need to do it all alone.

Do we believe in ourselves?
Self-belief is essential to overcoming obstacles in life. Self-belief means having confidence in our abilities and trusting ourselves, even if things don't go to plan. Let's sit with these feelings and find the lessons in them. Ask ourselves what we can take away from this and how we move forward If we have faith in our capability, it means that it's within reach. We can overcome self-doubt, rather than lose ourselves in the trap of self-sabotaging behaviour.

Is your emotional trashcan overflowing, too heavy to lift and empty? I can help you unpack this and understand its fullness?

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Get in touch!