180. Part 1: Using Silence To Create Emotional Capacity
In this podcast episode, I'm thrilled to announce a new training program that's dedicated to helping individuals with neurodivergent brains effectively handle and manage anxiety. We understand that this can be especially challenging for those who have experienced trauma or received a mental illness diagnosis. The best part? This training is entirely free. All you need to do is sign up on our waitlist at joinamanda.ca, and it will be ready for you soon.\n\nNow, let's dive into the heart of this episode.\n\nFirst and foremost, let's talk about building emotional capacity. Emotional capacity is an essential aspect of our emotional well-being, and it's something I want to delve into today. It's all about our ability to feel both negative and positive emotions in a manageable way. I know that for those of us who struggle with our emotions, especially the negative ones, it can be a real challenge to experience joy or pleasure. That's why we're going to explore the importance of creating space for our emotions without being overwhelmed.\n\nThe primary tool we're going to focus on for building emotional capacity is something I like to call "silence." Now, it's important to note that silence doesn't mean absolute absence of sound. It's about finding moments of stillness where you can pay attention to your body, your breath, and your senses. In fact, during this episode, I'll guide you through a brief exercise where we'll take a few moments to focus on our breath.\n\nNow, many of us with neurodivergent brains often grapple with the feeling that we're "doing it wrong." Society's expectations and standards can make us feel like we're not measuring up, and that can be paralyzing. What's crucial to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You have the power to create a practice that works for you, one that respects your unique needs and strengths.\n\nAs we wrap up this episode, I want to extend a warm invitation to connect with me on Instagram. My handle has recently changed to "the Amanda Hess." I would love to engage with you, hear your thoughts on the practices we've discussed, and learn about your experiences in implementing them in your life.\n\nTo sum it up, this episode has provided an introduction to the concept of building emotional capacity, with a specific focus on using silence as a valuable tool. It encourages self-reflection, self-acceptance, and offers insights that are particularly relevant to those with neurodivergent brains. Thanks for joining me, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future.