Crying is something I struggle with. Not the ability to cry. I can cry easily … at a movie, at the thought of a lost animal, even at a good commercial. But, crying over my circumstances, that’s a different story.
The more difficult a situation is, the more I tend to look for the good in it. I have learned that my attitude makes all the difference in how I cope with a challenge and how that challenge impacts my life. And when I look for the good in something I have a good attitude which in turn increases my quality of life.
But something I’ve been learning over the years is that it is also okay to cry over a bad situation. I used to think that crying meant I didn’t trust God or that I was weak. Not true. Crying is a great outlet for truly experiencing the difficulty and then cleansing the mind. It’s one of the ways our bodies release emotion and tension. And it’s a great reminder that we are human.
I’m not talking about spending week upon week crying over a situation and falling into the trap of self pity. That accomplishes nothing of value. But a good cry every now and then is important. Don’t stop at a few tears. Let it out. Mourn over a loss. Weep over a deep hurt. Bawl over a tragedy. Take comfort in knowing that those tears are necessary. The Bible tells us that even Jesus wept. And if He can do it, it must be good.
This morning was one of those times for me. It has been a hellacious past few weeks. My health has taken an interesting turn and I’m in the process of working with my doctor to adjust my treatment plan. I’m also being sent to several specialists for more testing to “rule things out.” My daughter’s head injury (last Spring she got a concussion) has not only not healed, but seems to be getting worse with increasing migraines and decreasing learning ability. This has lead us to numerous appointments with multiple doctors and learning specialists. Top this off with an unexpected surgery for my precious dog and financial constraints and it’s been a challenging time for us.
And this morning was my breaking point. I started journaling like always listing all the great things I have to be thankful for. Then I opened my heart and let the tears come. I love my journal because it is a safe place, an honest place. Journaling allows me to pour out my heart without editing my words so I can release my emotions and again think clearly. (So, by the way, do my dearest girlfriends.)
So this morning I cried. I let go. I wept and let the tears pour out. And oh, how much better I felt afterwards. So much of the tension and stress I had been carrying around was gone. It was like the release of a fire hydrant. Emotions burst out, but eventually the tears slowed, my breathing returned to normal and my mind cleared. I took a shower and came back to my journal ready to again list all the great things about my life. My list was long and it continues to grow as I go throughout my day.
Choose a Better Life ™ by choosing to Fight for your Future. Allow yourself to cry, to mourn, to weep. Let go of the emotions you are holding inside so you can get to the place of healing and seeing the blessings.
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