I Used to Be ___Sample

We’ve not met anyone who instantly liked a new title associated with loss. If you’ve struggled to accept a new title, you’re not alone. If you’ve experienced no problem slipping into a new uniform, then congratulations. You’re likely in the minority.

However you feel about it, take a moment to examine the “why” behind your feelings. Let your emotions teach you. Don’t let them be in charge, but emotions can be powerful teachers. After all, God designed our emotions as an alert system. Each one notifies us about different stimuli.

Some emotions, like anger, can be quite complex. For example, if we feel angry because we see a teenager picking on a first grader, we may be alerted to protect that innocent child. However, we can also feel angry about someone’s lack of communication, a person speeding past us on the highway, or a child who doesn’t show as much respect as we feel should be shown. In each of these angry situations, we may experience different alerts or emotions based on how we were created, our values, and even our mood.

Most of us want people to communicate well, drive safely, and treat others with respect. If we invest time into understanding why specific emotions are triggered within us, we will gain insight into our values.

No one can make us accept an unwanted title. It is up to us to decide. Will the new title help us connect with others who are in a similar situation? Does the new title sting? Quite possibly. Let's continue to grow and understand what’s beneath our strongest feelings.

Let's pray.

God,

Let my feelings be my teachers today so that I can understand what I'm feeling and why. Give me the strength to face the depth of my feelings about my grief and have compassion towards myself during this difficult time.

Amen.

Journal:

Write a few sentences about your feelings today and specifically your feelings surrounding your loss. Can you see any feelings that point toward your values? Write a few sentences about what you value and how your emotions around your loss make that clear.