I invite to become an emotional gánster - a movement that promotes emotional intelligence and vulnerability as an strength and not weakness. We live in a world where we are used to numb our feelings & emotions in order to fit in. We are sold the idea that if we are not happy we are broken. We are sold on the idea that in order to be at peace and happy we need to consume: more bags, more shoes, a bigger house, a more expensive car, etc... We are only allow to show emotions that make others feel comfortable, not showing our true colors, fears and insecurities is socially acceptable instead of promoting all of our feelings because WE ARE HUMAN, we are allowed to feel bad or sad or depressed or confused or vulnerable. We look outside for validation instead of learning to hear our inner voice, our fire, our spirit, our passions, our instincts. Here some tips to become an “EMOTIONAL GANGSTER”: 😎
1) Embrace sensitivity in you and others : cry if you want to cry, laugh a lot of you want to, be spontaneous, feel depleted if that’s your state of mind. Embrace the wave and learn how to surf in it.
2) Dont be afraid to be vulnerable. Learn that this is a strength and now a weakness. Why are we so afraid to express our feelings? Why do we have such a hard time saying I love you or I like you or I hate you? And describing why?
3) Learn your emotional vocabulary and make it richer every day. One of the most important things we can do is to learn how to express our feelings and emotions in a detailed organized way. Breaking down your inner yearnings is going to make you stronger and more in tune with yourself. And perhaps this is the healthiest way to approach life!
4) Block people that bully your feelings. Your feelings are who you are and they are here to stay! Don’t seek out validation from people that don’t “agree with your feelings “ because only YOU can tell why this emotional response is inside of you. Block people’s opinion on your emotions because they have no idea what’s happening inside of your soul and they haven’t walked in the same shoes as you. Period!
5) Let it flow - understand that no emotion is permanent- good or bad they are here to change. They are here for a reason and perhaps they are here to change us. Embrace the magic of your deepest feelings because this will make you an emotional gangster.
6) Trust your intuition- break the chains of the patterns that keep you caged in the mold. Develop your third eye, your faith, your power or however you want to call it. Your intuition is your super power so don’t shut it off. Ever!
7) Love is pain and pain is pleasure. Also, life is pain and pain is pleasure. You can’t feel happy, love, peace and serenity without also feeling sad, depressed, angry. We need both in order to appreciate the other. Use pain as a point of reference to transform your life. You need to experience pain in order to evolve. DONT NUMB THAT PAIN EVER!
8) Believe in yourself- like a gang - you should organize yourself to protect your feelings. Shoot people in the face (sort of speak) that don’t believe in you. Block them! They are not allowed in your private sacred space that is you and your soul. Protect your heart and make it bullet proof.
9) Change the views we have about emotional behavior and language in generations to come. Let’s stop teaching boys not to cry and girls to be delicate flowers. We are all human and we deserve to feel what we feel. ALL THE TIME, no matter our gender, age or social status.
10) Ask questions and break the mold - when you feel something ask yourself why? And the why should not be what we learned since little or through religion or culture or school. Find the whys that teach you who you are; not who others want you to be. Stay curious and always recruit new info for this emotional gang.
Inspired by GLENNON DOYLE’S latest book “UNTAMED”.
