Vampire Appliances
We have a limited amount of emotional energy. Getting more energy is probably more difficult than carefully using what you have. I want to talk to you today about emotional situations that drain our energy. We are unaware of this depleting process which diminishes our physical and psychological resources. This unseen lessening of emotional strength is like what happens with appliances that are constantly using small amounts of electricity all day, every day. These vampire appliances in your home include television, cable or satellite box, cell phone chargers, DVD players, computers, printers, and game consoles.
Emotional Energy Reserves
Although we all have some emotional energy, the amount each person has, varies widely. We spend our emotional energy in various ways when we care, love, create, advise, counsel, and laugh. These are, in my opinion, good investments of energy. On the other hand, certain situations lead to ongoing resentment, anger, bitterness, worry, sadness, grief, depression, despair, and hopelessness. Like the vampire appliances, there is a constant unseen drain on our reserves when we stay in that negative, emotionally charged situation. When that happens, your limited emotional energy is not being invested wisely, it’s being ruthlessly stolen from you. Slowly over time the bitterness, resentment, and despair are sapping life from us. We are leaking positivity and our reserves are being drained.
Eliminating the Vampires
In the world of electronic devices, the solve for this is to unplug the appliance to eliminate the needless energy drain. To limit the emotional energy drain we must first recognize that most emotional expenditures are under our control. Take an inventory of your emotional states. Are you angry or bitter much of the time? Do you find yourself brooding over slights and hurts? Has worry become a way of life? Quit blaming other people and unfavorable situations for your emotional responses. Developing frustration tolerance and better emotional regulation skills is possible with practice. Keep short accounts, resolving interpersonal issues quickly. Determine to work down slights, overcome rejections, and eliminate negative mental activity.
Limit your exposure to people that drain you and develop relationships with people who build you up. As you do, you’ll increase your emotional energy reserves that make a strong recovery possible.
Recovery is a Journey. Enjoy the Ride!
