Quotations in this post come from A Resilient Life:You Can Move Ahead No Matter What by Gordon MacDonald. Let’s examine and apply these insights into our spiritual journey! A Resilient Life provides an excellent read for anyone seeking to develop resilience and courage in your spiritual journey. Gordon’s chapters are practical, and insightful. This post is focusing on chapter 22: “Resilient People Harness Their Emotions.”
Link to Thrift Books: A Resilient Life
Images created using NightCafe Studio. Bible passages from Berean Standard Bible.
Trauma can lead to despair and depression if not properly treated. Self-isolation, intense negative emotions, and difficulty in moving forward are indicators of deeper emotional injuries.
Trauma & Difficult Emotions
First, let’s define some key terms: dysregulation, and resilience in relation to emotional regulation. The following source is available in pdf format for download through National Library of Medicine: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIMH).
Chapter 3 Understanding the Impact of Trauma from Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services
Key Terms: Emotional Dysregulation & Resilience
“Some trauma survivors have difficulty regulating emotions such as anger, anxiety, sadness, and shame—this is more so when the trauma occurred at a young age (van der Kolk, Roth, Pelcovitz, & Mandel, 1993). . .
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/
The reality: trauma creates difficulty in regulating and processing information. Trauma also impacts a person’s resilience moving forward. Ashley Laderer explains: emphasis mine
What is Trauma Resilience?
“According to the American Psychological Association (APA), psychological resilience is defined as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences.” In the context of trauma, resiliency refers to the ability to cope and move forward in the aftermath of trauma.
Healing from trauma doesn’t mean you’re ignoring the past or that you’re totally unaffected by the trauma. You’re not sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never happened. It also isn’t discounting or invalidating the trauma you endured.
Instead, resiliency simply means that you can adapt, adjust, and continue on with your life despite the difficulties you have faced. The APA says resilience is developed when one has emotional, mental, and behavioral flexibility and an ability to adjust accordingly.
Resiliency involves being able to manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a healthy way, supporting your overall well-being after trauma. A key aspect of this is emotional regulation. Trauma can result in many difficult emotions ranging from guilt, shame, anger, and sadness. Emotional regulation allows you to experience and manage all of these emotions healthily.”
Source: https://www.charliehealth.com/post/trauma-resilience-what-it-is-and-how-to-build-it
The key is managing emotions in a manner that is healthy. Often a person dealing with trauma will encounter various “triggers.” Simply explained, triggers are events, sounds, sights, and other physical or emotional stimuli that bring past negative experiences back. This happens subconsciously and rapidly. It’s possible that person isn’t aware of the trigger until the strong emotion or reaction is in process. Growth and healing come when we recognize this process and react appropriately to re-regulate our emotions and responses to our triggers.
A wise man considers seeking help when the fog of life descends.
Value of Working with Trauma Specialist
Why should a person invest in working through trauma with a mental health specialist?An experienced mental health professional specializing in trauma recovery will assist you in working through “triggers” and other trauma related issues. My purpose in writing this article is to provide encouragement and information. This article is not intended to serve as advice, treatment, therapy, or counseling. This author is not a licensed mental health provider.
Over the past years of my trauma recovery journey, God has blessed me with wise counsel and assistance from several trauma specialists. They helped me to develop awareness of triggers, recognize patterns of resentment, and learn self-calming techniques. Key to my growth has been understanding my emotions and responses to life situations.
Walking in the light of God’s truth is a daily exercise!
Growth and Moving Forward
Ashley identifies 5 Areas of Post Traumatic Growth and 7 Tips for Developing Post Traumatic Resilience: check these out through the link below:
https://www.charliehealth.com/post/trauma-resilience-what-it-is-and-how-to-build-it
Ashley’s article provides a great overview of these topics. The article has been clinically reviewed by Charlie Health’s team of certified therapists. When researching information to assist with trauma healing verify that the article(s) are medically reviewed. It’s possible to grow through your pain! We can become better, kinder, more compassionate individuals because of the things we endure. Part of the process is dealing with the emotions.
The brave explorer takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings. He realizes how far he has come knowing that he still has a long path to reach his heavenly destination.
Managing Emotions: Personal Growth
George MacDonald provides insights into handling our emotions. We discipline our emotions. Here’s a brief summary of key points:
Discipline Emotions: Emotional Indicators
“Emotions must be disciplined, and resilient people work at this. They understand the tension that arises from possessing strong emotions that serve a worthy purpose, yet must never be permitted to rule one’s choices or attitudes.” pg. 175
We accept that our strong emotions serve a greater purpose than our personal satisfaction. Emotions serve as indicators, but aren’t our ultimate guide to life and situations. We don’t allow these emotions to take charge while acknowledging their existence. Discipline is a process. Some days are more challenging than others!
Emotions: Reality and Perspective
“They discipline their emotions and make sure they reflect reality. . .Resilient people see their feelings as a significant part of the wholeness of life, but they do not allow them to become the final arbiter of conviction and choice. Yet they are quite aware of them and take note if one emotion begins to dominate life.” pg 176
Discipline allows one to experience peace even in the storms of life. Peace comes in understanding that no storm or strong feeling lasts forever.
Four Areas of Emotional Growth
1st: Don’t allow emotions to prevent yourself from hearing truth from others!
“I discipline my emotions when I make sure that they are not blocking the truths I need to hear. pg 177
Take a moment to consider the situation from others’ perspective. Be aware of your feelings and how past events/experiences may be influencing your present. Ask yourself these questions:
“When I feel things going against me and feelings of anger or resentment begin to rise, it is time to stop and ask what is happening. Is this for the greater good or not? Is God speaking through the moment or isn’t He?” pg 177
2nd: Remain true to your values and what is right
“I am disciplining my emotions when I make sure that they do no overrule what I know in my heart is good and right.” pg 178
Example: Peter
Consider how Peter rebukes Jesus when Jesus informs the disciples that He is going to suffer, die, and come back to life. Peter doesn’t understand Jesus’ role as messiah. When Peter rebukes Jesus, he gets a response. Peter is obviously out of line and not comprehending the bigger purpose.
3rd: Make time to evaluate emotions and discern your emotional state and responses
“I am disciplining my emotions when I take moments in a Sabbath to pause and ask, what are my prevailing feelings right now? Do they accurately reflect my situation? If I feel down, do I have reason to be down? If I am elated, does the reality of the moment justify that feeling? Is the anger I feel justified; is it in proportion to the situation?” pg. 178
Example: Saul’s heated pursuit of David
The accounts of Saul’s murder attempts and pursuit of David in 1 Samuel are tragic. Saul’s rage and jealousy lead him to hate and seek the death of an innocent man.
4th: Emotions lead to responsible action
“I am disciplining my emotions if I am careful to translate them into responsible action” pg 179
Example: Acts 27:22-25 Apostle Paul and storm when heading to Rome.
God sends an angel to reassure Paul that he will survive.
18We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo. 19On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.
21After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. 23For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
25So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. 26However, we must run aground on some island.”
In verse 33
33Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. 34So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”
35After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. 37In all, there were 276 of us on board. 38After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Paul shares truth and perspective for the terrified sailors, soldiers, and prisoners. He then encourages them to eat and he breaks the bread and prays. Knowledge of God’s promise leads to action!
Words of Grace & Hope 