
Self-Expression + Emotional Potty Training: A Guide to Navigating and Processing Emotions
Exploring the vast spectrum of our emotions requires both courage and commitment. Recently, on the latest episode of my podcast, “Healing, Feeling and the Journey of Emotional Potty Training,” I engaged in a compelling conversation with Rachel Kaplan, host of the “Healing Feeling Shit Show” podcast. Rachel introduced an innovative concept called “Emotional Potty Training,” a transformative process designed to change the way we manage and release emotions. I’ll delve deeper into self-expression and Emotional Potty Training and how it can empower individuals to enhance emotional awareness and expression for personal growth.
What Is Emotional Potty Training
At its core, Rachel Kaplan’s concept of Emotional Potty Training draws a parallel between the body’s natural detoxification process and emotional release. Just like we need to eliminate physical waste regularly, it’s essential to process emotions to avoid emotional buildup. Unfortunately, many people are disconnected from their emotions due to family or societal conditioning. Self-expression and Emotional Potty Training helps us reclaim our emotional selves, teaching us to fully express and release feelings in a healthy way, leading to a deeper connection with our authentic selves.
Creating Your Emotional Release Space
One key element of Emotional Potty Training is creating a dedicated space for self-expression and emotional release. Setting aside a specific time and space to engage with your emotions is crucial. Rachel Kaplan recommends finding a quiet area in your home where you can explore your feelings without distractions. Whether it’s playing soothing music, lighting a candle, or wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket, the goal is to create a comforting environment that encourages emotional expression.
This emotional “training” space allows you to be present with your feelings, much like training a child to recognize their body’s cues during potty training. In Emotional Potty Training, you are learning to tune into your emotional signals and respond to them appropriately, without judgment. For deep-rooted emotions, a strong, intentional connection is needed. Use your designated times to explore the landscape of your emotions.
Navigating Emotional Obstacles
Self-expression can be intimidating. During our discussion, Rachel and I explored the fears people often harbor about their feelings, rooted in early experiences and self-doubt. In my therapeutic practice, guiding clients to gently face these fears is an essential part of their healing journey.
For those finding it overwhelming, consider starting small. Implement both proactive and reactive strategies for emotional release. Set aside time for intentional emotional exploration, and allow yourself to react naturally to emotions that arise in daily life. This might look like retreating to a private place if you need to cry at work or channel anger through physical activities.
Self-Compassionate Feeling and Release
Embracing self-expression and emotions involves allowing them to flow naturally and then engaging in vital aftercare. Kaplan emphasizes the necessity of aftercare, along with reality-testing post-feeling. This step involves assessing the accuracy of these emotions in your current life context and encouraging a mindful approach to their validation and integration.
One practical exercise is performing body check-ins after an emotional release. How do different parts of your body feel now compared to before? Engaging in mindfulness during these assessments helps ground your experience and affirms your resilience.
Building a Supportive Network of Self-Expression
In addition to individual growth, building a supportive network is invaluable. While Emotional Potty Training fosters self-reliance, having a circle of supportive individuals provides essential co-regulation during emotionally challenging times.
Consider therapy or structured groups as avenues to practice and refine these concepts. Gaining professional insights can significantly enhance one’s ability to navigate emotions constructively.
The Larger Shift: Reconnecting with Nature and Self-Expression
A significant takeaway from Rachel’s insights is the transformative power of reconnecting with nature. Nature offers a grounding presence, replicating cycles of growth, death, and rebirth, serving as a metaphor for our emotional landscape—a reminder that emotions, like seasons, ebb and flow.
Consider engaging with nature—whether by cultivating a small garden or visiting a local park—to nurture a sense of belonging and integrate emotional learning. There are plenty of ways to incorporate the subtle healing powers of nature into your everyday life. The trick is to make these activities a core part of how you live your life.
Conclusion
Self-expression and Emotional Potty Training offers a comprehensive framework for navigating and processing emotions in a healthy way. By dedicating time to emotional release, learning how to tune into emotional signals, and practicing self-compassion and aftercare, individuals can foster personal growth and build emotional resilience. Whether you’re struggling to connect with your emotions or looking for better ways to express and process them, Emotional Potty Training provides the tools to guide you toward greater emotional awareness and well-being.
By embracing this approach, you may find yourself better equipped to handle life’s challenges, just as potty training teaches children to take care of their physical needs. Emotional Potty Training helps us reclaim our full emotional selves, allowing for healing, growth, and transformation.