| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Frequency: | as needed |
| Duration: | 15–30 mins |
Dr. Viktor Frankl, a notable Austrian psychologist and Holocaust survivor, believed that people search for meaning throughout their life.
This is especially true when faced with difficult situations or challenging environments. We often ask what the meaning of suffering is. At times, this quest for meaning overwhelms us. There is perhaps nothing more overwhelming than being unable to see into your future.
“It is life that asks the questions, directs questions at us—we are the ones who are questioned! We are the ones who must answer, must give answers to the constant, hourly question of life, to the essential “life questions.” Living itself means nothing other than being questioned; our whole act of being is nothing more than responding to—of being responsible toward—life.”
Dr. Viktor Frankl
To understand the direction and flow of life’s emotional storms, we first must track the direction of powerful winds gusting within our body. Many of us board up our windows and doors, battening down the hatches and distancing ourselves from the eye of this storm: our emotions.
Yet, within the centre of every hurricane, there is calm. A place of clarity and peace amidst the chaos. This is what this worksheet aims to do. By accurately labelling your emotions, they become more predictable and better defined. This helps us to track even the most powerful storms within us.
While completing this worksheet, remember some key pieces of advice:
A storm will act like a storm.
Trying to control a storm rarely works, so complete this exercise in a time and place where you feel comfortable expressing deep-seated emotions. (This might be in the privacy of your bedroom, or on an afternoon when you have the house to yourself.) Labelling emotions can take away some of their power, but only after we take in the intense power of the storm they cause. If you are worried about losing control of your emotions during this activity, consider the value of self-referral to our Online Therapy program.
All storms eventually pass.
Emotions, like weather, are temporary and shift day-to-day. When labelling your feelings, remember that they define a transient experience and not you as a person. Consider connecting with our Online Therapy program before doing this activity if emotions threaten your sense of self, or you feel overwhelmed by the storm within.
Notice calm at the centre of the storm.
At times, finding new awareness and truth can be painful. Authentic truth, however, should feel familiar. This is the ultimate goal of this activity: to find a place of peace and stillness in the storm. We can insist on observing emotions without judgement to find this calm. However, if you feel angry or frustrated by some truth, consider exploring deeper meanings with the support of Online Therapy.
When you’re in the midst of a storm, remember… you are not the storm! You are simply standing at the centre of this storm. This storm too will pass, and you may be left to cope with the chaos it produced. Focus on taking care of your self with deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, and self-compassion throughout this exercise.
Need to talk about your inner storm?
Check out our Online Therapy program, open to Alberta residents.