The Courage to Feel
BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO STAY OPEN
To live in a body that is fully connected to its capacity for feeling means opening to being vulnerable. By vulnerable, I’m not meaning without clear boundaries, but rather the capacity to open when openness is needed. The ability to remain open is a skill that involves increasing our threshold for both pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Staying open when we want to shut down, staying open when it’s easier to walk away. Staying open when we feel panicky or threatened. – Donna Farhi
BUILDING THE COURAGE TO FEEL
Part of the process is to build the courage to feel whatever feelings are stored in your heart or in your back—or wherever. Some of it is really uncomfortable—like your rage or your resentment or your hatred. These are things that are not considered ‘spiritual’ in traditional terms. But these are all human challenges that we must learn to deal with, and that is part of the spiritual road. So, what I ask in the yoga ceremony is for people to open their mind to learning something about their own condition, whether it’s suffering or heartbreak, or just that your hips are tight! This is an amazing process, because we are not taught that we can do that. But once we do, we begin to become the weaver of our own life. This is ceremony. – Ana Forrest
STAYING SAFE VS. LEANING IN
We fear being judged, disappointed, or hurt. We stay quiet when we should speak up, use anger to protect ourselves, don’t ask for that raise, express how we truly feel to a loved one, go for that opportunity, take that class, try something new, look at our own faults, or go on that date. We simply: Stay. Safe… [But then], unconsciously, we don’t forgive, let go, grow, or expand to our highest potential. This is the real tragedy of avoidance. Vulnerability is much like Yoga, a practice… The more we choose to dive into those uncomfortable feelings… [the more] we awaken to gifts we didn’t know we had. We build new relationships, accomplish goals, and achieve a lifelong dream. We cultivate confidence, strengthen our Faith, and shine our light… So, let’s all, one uncomfortable moment at a time, lean in—and keep practicing. – Lisa Meronchuk
Recommended Books for Federal Workers Dealing with Stress
Recommended books
- Radical Compassion by Tara Brach (2019) – Focuses on developing self-compassion during challenging times[5].
- The Anxiety and Worry Workbook by David A. Clark and Aaron Beck – Provides practical exercises for managing workplace anxiety[5].
- Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (7th edition) by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay – Offers comprehensive stress reduction techniques[5].
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris – Specifically addresses maintaining effectiveness while reducing stress, which is crucial for federal workers[5].
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn – Teaches mindfulness meditation techniques that can be integrated into daily work life[5].
These books are particularly valuable as they combine evidence-based approaches with practical applications that can be implemented within a government workplace setting.