I was on vacation last week and, not gonna lie, at times it felt a little bit like this:
This is the true story
of eleven family members
picked to live in a house
vacation together
and have their lives instagrammed…
Find out what happens, when people stop being polite, and start getting real…
Oh, the 90s. I love you so. (That was a reference to The Real World on MTV if you missed it.)
When you get that many people under one roof, it can be a masterclass in observing human emotions.
Siblings clashing over this or that. My son going absolutely bonkers in the presence of his cousins. Adults dancing around their worldviews and strong opinions. Meal planning.
It all got me really curious about the idea of freaking out: what does it mean, why does it happen, how is it actually a good thing?
It’s hard to find a relatable definition to the concept of freaking out, but this one made the most sense: to be or cause to be in a heightened emotional state, such as that of fear, anger, or excitement
The synonyms are even better:
- Blow a gasket
- Blow one’s mind
- Wig out
- Go crazy
- Come unglued
- Go ballistic
- Go berserk
- And my personal favorite… go bananas!
Here’s the fun thing about freaking out — it’s usually filled with a ton of information.
If the first thing you think of when you think of freaking out is anger (or frustration), there’s a blinking red sign of information available to you if you take a closer look.
What is anger distracting you from?
What other emotion are you avoiding?
Are you holding on tight to being right, and forgetting that being wrong can actually be pretty eye opening?
Who or what are you blaming? Why?
Maybe your version of freaking out involves getting yourself in a tizzy. Hello, anxiety. You’re flummoxed, bewildered, and discombobulated.
What do you need to release or let go of?
What do you need to surrender to and/or trust more?
What do you actually have control over? How will you forget the rest (for now)?
Are you breathing?
Let’s go bananas! Are you the kind of person who freaks out when you are SUPER excited?
How does energy run through your body?
How do you express yourself?
What lights you UP?
What do you need to scream out loud? (What’s stopping you?)
The next time you freak out (I promise, it will be here before you know it), please check in with yourself in the moment. Get curious about the source of the emotion. Let it flow through you safely, and take the opportunity to reflect after you work through it.
You are an energetic life force.
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