Why you need to open up emotionally and how to do it
Miscellaneous / / April 05, 2023
Five psychological practices will help you on your way to positive changes.
Why is it important to be emotionally open?
Have you ever been confused and didn't understand how your friend, partner or family member is feeling? Or maybe you felt that your relationship stopped developing and reached a dead end? Perhaps the whole point is that at such moments one of you or both of you were emotionally unavailable.
Both romantic and platonic relationships require us to be emotionally involved. When we close ourselves off from another person, we often act on behalf of our wounded self, the version of our personality that we have hurt in the past. So we try to prevent possible pain in the future. But by doing so, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to experience love, connection and intimacy on a deeper level in the present, as we remain in a vicious circle of protection.
To improve relationships with loved ones and truly open up, we can regularly practice mindfulness with the help of personal growth tools.
How to become emotionally open
1. Use the "energy mirror"
If we do not fully understand ourselves, then we can project our experiences onto other people. And when we look at the actions of others as if in a mirror, we can learn what their behavior tells us about ourselves. This practice reminds us that the world around us is a reflection of our inner state. We attract to ourselves what we are.
Ask yourself:
- At what points in a relationship do I feel appreciated, and when do I feel neglected?
- How does this reflect my own desires and unmet needs?
Once you find the answers to these questions, start fulfilling your desires and satisfying your needs yourself. For example, if you feel that you are not appreciated, ask yourself what part of your personality you yourself do not value, and begin to accept yourself as a whole.
2. Accept your feelings
Instead of suppressing your emotions, immerse yourself in them through a practice that is comfortable for you. This could be meditation, breathing techniques, or journaling.
3. Show your real self
When you realize that you already trust the person, start sharing your true emotional self with them. When we stay true to ourselves and speak openly and honestly with loved ones, we encourage them to do the same. Mutual sincerity towards each other helps to create deeper emotional bonds.
4. Connect to your values
Think about what is important to you and observe how the people around you match your values. We accept the love we think we deserve. So reassess your values and create new rules for yourself. You are more an uninjured childwhose emotional needs were once neglected. Now you are an adult who can accept love, therefore, first of all, he loves himself and knows his true worth.
The best thing you can do is to understand your desires and understand what kind of relationship you expect and how you want to feel in a relationship. This will help free up space for the right person.
5. Encourage Feedback
It helps control negative behavior. When you ask for feedback, be friendly and take responsibility for your shortcomings. Open conversation, during which you are not afraid to show your vulnerability, allows other people to also freely show their individuality and point out disagreements between you.
A wonderful emotional opening often happens when we share our inner world with loved ones. Gradually, this turns into an exchange of vulnerabilities, and the result is real intimacy and emotional availability.
When we talk about our fears, doubts and worries, we strengthen relationships and convince other people that we can be trusted.
Read also🧐
- How to learn to express emotions when you were told to suppress them as a child
- 5 questions to help you deal with strong emotions
- Why negative emotions are needed and why they should not be blocked