How to discard emotional baggage

THERE are many sources of negative energy. Chief among them is the inability to move on from a negative situation.

Many people carry the burden throughout their lives. Some call it emotional baggage.

Happy and successful parents know how to manage this baggage and insulate their homes from the onslaught of negative energy.

One common example of how people are stuck with carrying their emotional baggage is when they dwell too much on the past.

This can also happen in a relationship, either between spouses or parents and children.

They latch on to the other person’s past mistakes like there’s no future. They dig back those old stories like they just happened yesterday.

This is surely one of the fastest ways to destroy any relationship.

John Brandon, a contributing editor of Inc.com, nicely sums up the impact of emotional baggage as follows: “For anyone carrying around emotional baggage, it’s possible that those negative thoughts — memories of what you did wrong, the breakups and mental breakdowns, the conflicts at work that seem to linger — are defining you as a person. While this might be only a good first step on the road to emotional recovery, there’s one secret to overcoming those thoughts and finding peace of mind (and peace in your life).”

“Leaving the baggage behind means you short-circuit that process. You bounce the thoughts away and replace them with something completely different: the times you were successful at work, the discussions you resolved effectively, the projects you completed on time and on budget. The time you really impressed your boss. Each and every time you start dwelling on the negative, switch to a positive topic. Bounce it away.”

POSITIVE ENERGY

I have my own way of dealing with my emotional baggage. Every day as I drive home from work, I’d envision that I’m putting all my worries, unresolved issues and frustrations in a luggage and placing them in the trunk.

I then label this bag “Luggage of Negative Energy” or LONE. I’ve found that it has become easier to focus on the family rather than worrying about all the other things. As a result, I’m able to create a more positive environment at home.

Why is having a positive energy in our home important? A house permeating with negative energy will cause its occupants to have a very negative outlook on life. It also creates a feeling of hopelessness and “not my fault” attitude.

However, a positive home will equip the children with the ability to think creatively, to take responsibility and to act for things that are within their control.

These are the skills that will come in handy when they reach secondary school years, college or even the working world.

By the way, after a good positive interaction at home, I usually find that my LONE luggage magically disappears the next day!