“Power Statements” is part of a monthly column of mental health articles by Karen Munson. Read the next article, Give Yourself a Valentine, at the link.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 ǝpᴉsdn uʍop???
If you have been running faster than you can walk, if you have been invalidated by others, or if you have shut down emotionally, you may not know how you feel. This is a good time to pause, take a deep breath, and feel. Go ahead and be brave.
I Feel…
Sometimes, it is difficult to identify an emotion. Drilling down to specifics helps with tracing the source and resolving uncomfortable emotions. The following chart may help pinpoint exactly what is churning inside.
Once you know what you are feeling, consider where that emotion is coming from: an incident, another person, a story you keep telling yourself, family culture, etc. Feeling is a vulnerable position. But without the ability to feel, there is no chance to feel a connection. Until we wake up within, we cannot have actual relationships.
Sometimes, it feels safer to numb out, remain aloof, or withdraw. However, being authentic to your experiences encourages human interaction and supports further learning and growth. Being vulnerable makes you more approachable and can become a strength.
I Am…
Positive affirmations are popular. “I am successful; I am confident; I am strong; I am positive, etc.” When we say, “I am ________,” we are labeling ourselves as whatever we put in the blank. We are owning and identifying with that word.
In Finland, people say, “I have depression,” rather than, “I am depressed.” This subtle yet powerful difference changes the identity. “I feel depressed” is the truth without being a negative label.
Jesus said, “I Am” is one of his names. Christians believe that when they take upon them His name, they are identifying with deity.
Write your own list of I Am… statements. They can be accurate for your current situation and powerful prophetic statements of attributes you can acquire through repeatedly telling yourself, “I am _________.”
I Know…
Once you have tapped into how you honestly feel, and it has led you to an awareness of your identity, what have you come to know? This is the culminating summation. One of my favorites is: I know that I am flawesome, an individual who embraces their flaws and knows they are awesome regardless.
You will likely have your own aha moments of discovery. I Know statements communicate our core beliefs about ourselves and our purpose. I Am statements are our identity; I Know statements are our mission statement.
A natural progression of this process might result in something like this:
“I know that I can choose how to prioritize my time and what I expose myself to. I know it’s important to establish and keep standards as they will get me to my goals and on that path to those things I deeply desire.”
Using this method to help us identify emotions, solidify our identity, and state our mission can yield countless benefits. It is a big step in communicating more accurately to yourself and others where you are and where you are going.
I feel inadequate, but I know I am enough.
– by Karen Munson
Karen M. Munson – Escalante
Karen is an associate editor at The Byway. She is fascinated and fulfilled by all things involved with writing. After graduating from BYU, she taught English at Escalante High School for three years. She pursues opportunities to write and support others in their writing. Karen has published three books with four more scheduled to be released in 2024. She and Reed are the parents of ten children and the grandparents of 35 grandchildren.
Karen is the author of the New Twist on Mental Health column in The Byway.