In our community, we have been talking about trauma, grief, and acceptance over the past several weeks. But, it is a common reaction to avoid and/or struggle with feelings and emotions when they are overwhelming and distressing. Acceptance is moving towards being present with these emotions and thoughts without having to avoid or struggle with them. (you don't have to like them or the experience, but accept that it is a normal human response in the moment). What I have experienced and learned through ACT, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy is, long-term when we struggle and/or avoid these distressing feelings and thoughts, it can numb out all our feelings, including joy and/or the other extreme where we fuse with them and move away from our core selves and values. Both common survival/protective responses for moments. Fusing is a term to describe when we become hooked by distressing thoughts and feelings, and they take over. Defusion is a skill we can learn to observe our thoughts and feelings without dismissing them or fusing with them. When we do this, we are accessing what ACT would call our observing self: a higher consciousness that can give us more flexibility and perspective. This video goes through a hand exercise to understand this concept more and increase access to be curious with different ways you can learn to be with your thoughts and feelings where we can make choices to move towards our values and core self more. This a reminder that if you're fused with these distressing experiences so much that it is hard to observe, you will want to do some grounding (you can go on youtube to check out the past videos on grounding practices). Do these things first to get you present in your body and environment before doing emotional regulation skills like defusion. #groundingtechniques #mentalhealth #spirituality #mindfulness #selfcare #healing #wellness #meditation #breathwork #affirmations #selflove #innerpeace #energyhealing #progressivechristianity #faithandmentalhealth #spiritualpractice #prayer #scripturemeditation #mindfulchristianity #contemplativeprayer #grace #mercy #compassion #inclusivity