1. “Vulnerability is the essence of romance. It’s the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, ‘This is me, and I’m interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not.” – Ashton Kutcher

For many of us, being vulnerable can evoke feelings of fear, uncertainty, or shame. We may have been taught not to appear vulnerable (especially men in our society). It can be unsettling to be vulnerable because it opens one up to the possibility of being rejected or failing. Because of this, we might make an effort to limit our exposure to vulnerability. Although being open to vulnerability is frequently seen as a sign of weakness, it is actually a crucial aspect of the human experience.

Vulnerability can sometimes be seen in the physical reactions of your body. You might notice your muscles tense or a pit in your stomach. When you openly express your needs, needs, and thoughts, you might notice a quickening of your breathing. Your nervous system might feel paralysed, and you might feel unable to speak. You turn away. In some cases, you may even feel as if you’re losing a piece of yourself.

Full Article: 13 Ways Vulnerability Can Benefit You. 
 

2. “Intimacy transcends the physical. It is a feeling of closeness that isn’t about proximity, but of belonging. It is a beautiful emotional space in which two become one.” – Steve Maraboli

What comes to mind when you think of intimacy? Sex? Cuddling? The capacity to openly disclose your vulnerabilities to your partner? All of these things and more are intimate. One aspect of intimacy may be more straightforward for some people than others. Most of the time, it depends on the dynamics of the relationship, the backgrounds and experiences of both people concerned, and the degree to which they nurture the relationship.

Though emotional intimacy is not just something for romantic relationships – fostering emotional intimacy is just as, if not more, crucial to any romantic relationship than physical intimacy, which is essential and one of the main characteristics that distinguishes it from other types of relationships.

Intimacy can deteriorate over time, particularly if life stressors interfere. Intimacy is frequently the first thing to go when a couple becomes painfully estranged from one another due to work pressures, financial difficulties, and interactions that erode trust. Despite the fact that a number of demanding circumstances have stood in the way, couples can reestablish intimacy and meet their needs.

For developing romantic and platonic relationships, Jessica Stern, PhD, a psychologist who teaches courses at the University of Virginia on emotion and close relationships, compares emotional intimacy to water and sunlight. In addition to fostering the relationship’s growth and fortifying the emotional bond so that it can withstand the winds of change, stress, and time apart, she says that this action “helps deepen the roots of the relationship by grounding it in mutual trust and understanding.”

Emotional intimacy, in the end, fosters a strong sense of security within your relationship and the freedom to be authentically you, flaws and all, without worrying that you might endanger the relationship (be it platonic or romantic). A relationship can struggle in many ways without intimacy. For instance, you might experience hypersensitivity, bitterness or resentment, worry about the other person’s loyalty, or your own loneliness or isolation.

Full Article: 10 Ways to Increase Your Emotional Intimacy.
 

3. The holidays, ahh. They are only a short distance away! Though my children have been asking top put the Christmas decorations since October, this weekend, we’ll finally be getting underway with it. When we’re in a good place, it can be such a wonderful and joyful time of year. However, for some of us, it might feel like too much to handle and can present a wide array of challenges. When it comes to mentally preparing for the holiday season, everyone is different and has different needs.

Your greatest reluctance to assemble with others indoors to celebrate the season may be COVID or coughs or colds. Or perhaps you are mourning or thinking about a loved one who are not with you. You might also be feeling overburdened by the impending holiday season in general. I work with many families for whom their neurodiverse children find it especially challenging to cope with much of what goes on during the festive season. Unfortunately, the holiday countdown cannot be stopped. It is tough to avoid in the modern world. You can, however, do your best to be mentally prepared for what lies ahead and deal with the ideas and concerns that are running through your head right now...

Full Article: How to Be Mentally and Emotionally Prepared for Holiday Season.
 

4. Self-care, self-help, self-improvement – are subjects that has been experiencing ongoing popularity on social media in particular. Self-help accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter gained a tonne of followers as people flocked to anything that seemed even vaguely wholesome during and following some gloomy times in recent years. This has also led to the development of more ‘toxic self-care’, in which self-help influencers provide unsupported, unqualified and unsubstantiated mental health advice or inaccurate information about mental health conditions.

Some self-care influencers refrain from making statements that are unsupported by quality research or evidence-base or those that should only be made by qualified mental health professionals. However, some don’t, and sometimes they almost seem like blatant attempts to simply keep social media users – some of whom are genuinely motivated to feel better – trapped in cycles of fear, dependency and self-loathing.

It is important to realise that it can be easy to get sucked into a self-help cycle of books, clips, and videos without actually addressing the problems in your life or applying anything of any real value to your development. It can even turn into an independent addiction. Finding self-help material is sometimes more of a symptom than a cure.

Full Article: The Toxic Self-Help Tips To Avoid.
 

5. Emotion and emotional expression are crucial in our daily lives. Emotions, according to evolutionary psychologists, serve a primal function in assisting us in navigating and adapting to our ever-changing environment. Emotions influence our attitudes, moods, and behaviours, and in many cases, they can effect and even determine our success.

According to researchers, there are at least six universal emotions: fear, disgust, anger, sadness, surprise, and happiness. Positive emotions have been extensively researched and demonstrated to promote inner strength and resiliency. Positive emotions are thought to be ideal for effective brainstorming in the workplace because they help workers generate new ideas. Furthermore, positive emotions strengthen social bonds by assisting us in developing relationships with others.

There is no doubt that positivity has power. Some researchers, however, argue that other emotions are just as important and should be carefully considered when attempting to achieve specific outcomes. Dr. David Caruso of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence shares his insight into how a narrow focus on positive emotions can limit our ability to authentically connect with others in his book The Emotionally Intelligent Manager. Fear, sadness, or frustration, according to emotion theorists, serve a functional purpose: they convey specific needs that stimulate corrective action. While some may try to ignore these so-called “negative emotions,” people with high emotional intelligence understand that all emotions contain important information, which they can use to their advantage.

Full Article: How to Use Negative Emotions to Your Advantage.