Dear Jana:

You are welcome, and thank you for your support and encouragement! I too am looking forward to more discussions with you, and I will read and reply to your new (2nd) thread next.

anita

Dear Jana:

It is inspiring to read about your ever-expanding self-awareneas, as well as your understanding of other people.

I wish you a year of further and farther-reaching expressions of the suppressed Jana of previous years.

I wish myself the same

Anita

Dear Jana:

You are welcome and thank you! I am feeling fine these days, more inner peace than ever, I think. More giving my emotion space to breathe, an opportunity to just be, instead of criticizing and trying to cancel them (aka suppressing them).

Anita

Dear Jana:

Thank you, and you are making a very good point- the middle way is finding a balance where I acknowledge and validate my emotions (giving them space) without letting them take over my life (giving them too much space). Mindfulness helps maintain this balance.

I didn’t think of the idea of giving emotions too much space before you brought it up, Jana, not in these words, so I want to elaborate: an example of giving FEAR too much space: a person who is afraid of public speaking avoids all social events and turns down job opportunities or promotions because of their fear. This avoidance limits their personal and professional growth, isolates them socially, and reinforces their fear, making it even harder to face in the future.

An example of giving SADNESS too much space: a person who experiences a breakup withdraw from friends and family, stops engaging in activities they once enjoyed, spends most of their time ruminating on their sadness, and neglects self-care and responsibilities.

An example of giving ANGER too much space: a person lashing out at others, dwelling on negative thoughts, and making impulsive decisions based solely on your anger.

Here is a poem on giving emotions space, not too little, not too much:

In the gardens of our hearts,
Emotions bloom and wither, night and day
Each one cherished, each one told.
Each one deserves a gentle touch.

Fear and joy, they come and go,
Like petals in a fleeting show.
Acknowledge them, but don’t hold tight,
Let them dance in morning light.

With mindfulness, we tend the soil,
Where love and peace begin to coil.
No overwhelm, nor neglect,
Just balance that we can reflect.

In this space where calm resides,
Balance in our hearts abides.
A perfect tune of ebb and flow,
In this garden, we will grow.

Coming to think of it, Jana, looking at the title you chose for this thread, “Will I ever be free of this fear of people?”- giving this fear too much space would mean constantly avoiding social situations, avoiding public places, isolating oneself from others entirely => leading to fear becoming more entrenched and harder to overcome.

Giving this fear too little space would mean ignoring or suppressing the fear by forcing oneself into social situations without addressing the underlying anxiety, pretending the fear doesn’t exist and therefore, not seeking any help or support=> leading to increased anxiety and stress, the fear remaining unresolved, and the person feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Giving this fear just the right amount of space would mean acknowledging the fear, understanding its origins and gradually exposing oneself to social situations in a controlled and supportive manner, such as attending smaller gatherings before larger ones, and seeking therapy or counseling => leading the person to gradually experience reduced anxiety, improve social interactions and to living a more balanced and fulfilling social life.

I hope it’s okay with you, Jana, that I elaborated on the topic the way I did above: is it okay with you, perhaps helpful?

anita