I have hit my little toe many times in my life, and to my surprise every single time – IT HURTS.
Such a small part of the body with a huge deliverance of pain! Given a few minutes (of course this is dependant on how badly I have hit it) the pain slowly dissipates and I am able to walk again, albeit sometimes with a limp of sorts!
If only the emotional ‘ouches’ in life, could be healed in the same.
Anguish, sorrow, despair and heartache are felt in different degrees and relevant to the relationship/circumstance for which the emotional ouch has occurred, but there almost always is a significant amount of time required for healing and being able to move on. I have found that walking tall emotionally takes some time after such experiences.
How can this time be shortened and life return to normal? (But then what is normal anyway!!!)
How can I ever love or trust to open up to others again?
To date I have not found complete answers to these questions, but what I have learnt is that taking time to reflect on the experience such as what has happened or not happened, or what was or was not said, has proven to be beneficial and provided valuable experience for me in future relationships/circumstances.
I do this by asking myself; “ If there is one lesson that I can take from this experience, what would it be?”
I learn new things all the time; and often more than one lesson.
Why does the emotional ‘ouch’ happen anyway?
This question rattled around in my head when I was baking some Coconut bread the other day (Recipe Below) as I began to ponder on my recent Emotional ‘ouch’ and the way it has taught me my latest lesson.
“What was the lesson this time?”, you ask.
To Be Real!!!! Never change for others even if they voice that you should. Oh there is so much to share about that, but will leave that for another post J
Back to the Coconut Bread and how it relates to my Emotional ‘ouch’
The ingredients in this recipe is what makes it, giving it the unique flavour that it has, simple yet tasty. Two ingredients in particular sparked the thought pattern for me.
The sugar, is raw, the flour is Wholemeal.
These two ingredients are closer to where they originated than other refined products. They have not been through as rigid a process so they are a bit ‘rougher’ around the edges, but still very rich in flavour, and definitely much-required ingredients for this recipe.
Is it the rougher edges in these ingredients that bring out the best in each other?
Is it the combined effort of the two ingredients that enhance the flavour?
With ingredients combined, the Coconut Bread is put in the oven. A closed area of heat doing the work it needs to do, for as long as required. The aroma of the cooking is wafting through the house, causing one to know it is there.
My Emotional ‘ouches’ are no different.
The relationships/situations in my life that have rough edges scrapping at me in all the places that hurt, can be used to bring out the best in me. They can enhance my life richly, like no other can.
The anguish, sorrow, despair and heartache is evident and being felt in many ways – the oven of my Emotional ‘ouch’. The aroma that is wafting from my ‘ouch’ can often be seen, felt or heard.
Does the aroma and taste of my ‘ouch’ linger in the lives of others in a good way?
So thank you to you my recent Emotional ‘ouch’? I have learnt many lessons from you, as I reflect with slice of Coconut Bread and a cuppa. My lesson will be well used for greater things, for today, tomorrow and the many days ahead.
The emotional ‘ouches’ of life are not avoidable, but can be used to our benefit, if we choose to allow them.
May both you and I bounce off the next Emotional ‘ouch’ well!
Deb
Xx
Coconut Bread
Ingredients
1 cup Wholemeal Self Raising Flour
¾ cup raw sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup milk
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180
2. Mix dry ingredients together
3. Add milk and mix well.
4. Bake in well greased & lined loaf tine for 40 min
DEBriefing 
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