After my mum died a few years ago I had terrible trouble trying to get my life on track as I had moved back to my tiny bedroom in my tiny hometown to care for her as she battled with cancer for 9 months until she died after which I moved back to the big city and I was doing everything right, but everything was going wrong and it didn't matter how hard I tried, everything in my life was slipping in reverse which made me feel even worse.
And then I met a lady who introduced me to another lady https://www.lorettahoneychurch.com/ who happens to be a healer and a motivational coach- but completely unlike any other motivational coaches you ever heard of (tony robbins for example..) Anyway, she saw that I was in pain physically (neck/shoulder) and knew that I was in pain emotionally and she asked me 1 simple question repeatedly for about 15mins and all I had to do was answer her with the first thing that came to mind and that question was What emotion are you feeling now? What emotion are you feeling now? and soon I was balling my eyes out but could feel waves of cool wash over my neck where the pain was until it was gone.
I then sat on the edge of my bed upon waking every morning for 4 days after that and repeated the exercise myself.
In the end, not only was I able to narrow down the very broad original answers to specifics, but I was able to ask myself why I felt those specific emotions and within a few days my life started getting back to normal..and I felt so much better.
So this exercise I still continue to this day- when I feel that I need it and it works every time.
I tell you this cause this is like when you say you need to check in every day.
Maybe you should also try this and see how you go too?
It worked for me and it doesn't necessarily have to be used on big emotional issues either...
Anyway, great article and best wishes to you.
RE: Witnessing Our Own Toxic Patterns (and Resisting Them)