Mindful Living Lab

When you get a cut, you clean it. When you sprain your ankle, you rest it. But what about when your heart breaks , or your anxiety spikes , or you feel like you’re drowning inside? That’s when you need emotional first aid — not someday, but right now. Here’s how to tend to your emotional wounds with care and immediacy. 1. Name What You’re Feeling (Even if It’s Messy) Start with: “I feel overwhelmed.” “I’m scared and I don’t know why.” “I’m angry, and I don’t want to be.” Naming your emotion helps deactivate the chaos and reconnects you to yourself. 2. Use Grounding Techniques When your nervous system is in overdrive, try: 5-4-3-2-1 (name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, etc.) Hold something cold (ice, water bottle) Place a hand on your chest and say: “I am here. I am safe.” These reset your body faster than overthinking can. 3. Remove Yourself From Overstimulation (If You Can) If you’re in a crowd, on social media, or surrounded by noise...

Sometimes your reactions feel… bigger than they should. A small rejection cuts deep. You over-apologize. You feel unloved in a crowded room. That might not be the adult you — It might be your inner child , asking to be seen, heard, and held. 1. What Is the Inner Child? Your inner child is the emotional memory of your younger self. The part of you that still holds: Past fears Unmet needs Joyful curiosity Wounds that never fully closed It lives beneath the surface — but still shapes how you think, feel, and love. 2. Signs Your Inner Child Is Hurting You fear being a burden You panic at conflict or disapproval You feel guilt when resting You seek validation obsessively You self-sabotage when things go well These aren’t flaws — they’re survival patterns from a younger you. 3. How to Listen to Your Inner Child Ask yourself: “What am I feeling — and when did I first feel this way?” “What did I need back then that I didn’t get?” “What w...