Recently I came up with an emotional creed, a statement of belief about what works when it comes to emotional health. Raised in the church, I’m familiar with religious creeds that keep believers centered on the most important and central aspects to faith. It seems we could all benefit from creating an emotional creed to repeat to ourselves on a weekly basis in order to stay grounded in what is central to emotional health as well. Try out this one, or experiment with writing your own creed of emotional health:
I know what I value.
I focus on what is in versus out of my control.
With myself and in relationships, I lower my expectations when they are too high, and I raise my expectations when they are too low.
I do what works.
I radically accept the struggle, variation, and beauty of the human experience.
I set limits instead of resenting accommodation.
I laugh as much as possible with my closest people.
I know my vulnerabilities and selectively entrust them to my closest people.
I know my strengths and own but don’t inflate them.
I can love without liking, and forgive without befriending.
I trust what people do, not what they say.
I am willing to clean the filter on my belief system and hold to what remains.
I accept that there is no formula for preventing heartbreak.
I accept that there is no substitute for joy.
When I show up, I am present.
