“A conversation on dealing with our emotions in a reality we can’t control”
By Crystal Belle
KUCHING — On 1 October, EMPOWERED organised an IG LIVE Session featuring Ralph Balan, Crystal Belle and guest Elizabeth Togot for a conversation on dealing with our emotions in a reality we cannot control.
The session started off with a brief introduction from the guest, Elizabeth, who is a Year 3 Counselling Student from University Putra Malaysia (UPM). The discussion started by identifying Elizabeth’s own struggles as a student living in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation such as working with others virtually for group assignments, and the uncertainty of flying back and forth from campus to hometown in Kuching where these struggles and outcome of the situation is not within our control.
The basic rule when someone faces any emotion is to understand what it is, what is it there for and to accept it for what it is. Discussion on suppressing emotions, not handling them well and pushing it aside also took place in identifying these feelings. It was mentioned in the session that it is unhealthy to push away these feelings that they have because they think that it is “too much” or “too hard for them to handle”.
The ways to counteract these overwhelming feelings were highlighted as below:
- Journalling (daily journalling, or journal whenever you need to vent out)
- Talking to a trusted friend
- Talking to a counsellor
- Feel those emotions thoroughly and then do things that bring peace in your life
Before the session ended, a question from the viewers was put forward:
Q. How does one help another person to comfort or deal with their problems, especially when they like to shut you off?
– We cannot force someone to share their experience to you because they may not be ready to share. So instead of forcing them to share, we give them assurance that you will be there for them, be compassionate towards them, keep in mind that it may trigger their traumas so all we can do is assure them and listen with a neutral heart and mind.
Tune in to view the session at instagram.com/empoweredkch/channel/
*The members in this session are youths who have spent some years growing up in EMPOWERED and currently pursuing higher learning degree.
Empowered Ministry Kuching
