Has anyone ever said to you, “You’re so emotional?” This phrase is often loaded with judgment and is used to encourage someone to get control of their emotions. What if this phrase were said as a compliment? Hear it differently: “You’re so open and emotional.” What a gift. This is what leads to emotional wisdom.
Expressing our emotions takes courage. When we’re feeling emotional, it’s a risk to give up control long enough to really experience the frustration, sadness or even passion we feel. As we move from Gemini to Cancer and dive into the summer months, it’s the perfect time to develop some emotional wisdom and take care of yourself.
∙ I don’t know if I’m really that important.
∙ I don’t know if I’m really that lovable.
∙ I don’t know if I’m really wanted by anyone.
∙ I don’t need to take up too much space.
∙ I don’t know if I’m worthy to even be here.
When someone has emotional wisdom they can flip those statements over to the opposite. An emotional wise person never assumes the negativity of self-denial. “Yes, I AM worthy!” We are all worthy of taking up space in the universe. We are all entitled to have a good life, in whatever way we each define it.
∙ I am important and have gifts to offer. I love who I am.
∙ I deserve to be loved.
∙ I deserve to take up space.
Try saying those sentences out loud.
As we enter into Cancer and the height of summer, we’re flipping the script on emotional wisdom. Rather than being a victim to our old way of thinking — we decide to take care of ourselves and build ourselves up rather than tearing our psyches apart. Emotional wisdom includes empathy, self-care and love. Learn more about the elements of emotional intelligence.
Practicing self-care doesn’t mean you’re selfish. It simply means you’re prioritizing your inner work as much as your outer work. Sensitivity is at a high pitch this time of year. Students are home from school, we’re often spending more time outside being bombarded by all sorts of stimulus, we often travel which can mean stress from planning, heightened expectations, time spent in large quantities with friends and family that can be tense and our regular diet, exercise and sleep plans are often interrupted by summer picnics, barbeques and late nights around the campfire. While summer is wonderful, you may become distracted by how much is happening around you and put self-care on the back burner.
Emotional wisdom is all about knowing when to take a break. Ask yourself, “What do I do for self-care?” Do you prioritize your inner work as far as listening to your body and trusting your intuition? Do you know when to stop taking care of others and know how to care for yourself, all without guilt? Learn more about the importance of self-care through a variety of Ted Talks, including one by author Brené Brown.
On July 13th, a new moon shows up in Cancer and the planetary positions will reflect our need for self-care. When this new moon occurs, there will also be three planets in Water signs (the Sun, Jupiter and Neptune) and three planets in Earth signs (Venus, Saturn and Uranus). This formation of the moon and planets will form a giant Star of David in the sky, so the new moon is very auspicious. Water signs are all about sensitivity and Earth signs are all about self-care, so the new moon in Cancer will be a reminder from the universe to be sensitive to your needs, slow down and do something to take care of yourself. Whether it’s getting a massage, going for a walk by yourself or reading a book, taking care of yourself needs to be a priority. If you don’t have the emotional wisdom to take care of yourself, how can you be expected to take care of anyone or anything else?
This month, embrace the wisdom Cancer offers us and flip the script on what being emotional means. Reach out to Debra Silverman today to learn more about what Cancer can teach us and how to make the most of this month.