The Trailogy of the Emotional Sherpa: Season One

I’m on my way

“and have miles to go before I sleep.” ~ Robert Frost

The Emotional Sherpa heads out on his solo trek. Unbeknownst to him, he’s been preparing for this trip for a long time. The Sherpa only carries his own weight this time. And now he’s aware his Rucksack needs some organization and a lot of upgrades. Being a purest sounds good, but let’s face it, the new fabrics and cool technologies not only add comfort and joy to our journeys (and the hikers who share tents with us, Pee Whew) but also these new ways of traveling offer advanced levels of safety and protection. The Emotional Sherpa starts out ready to take on this adventure knowing he’s got a lot to learn about these new products, advanced ways of navigation, methods of training, and more creative ways of crossing precipices and climbing across crevices.

The Sherpa remembers a children’s story his mother read to him when he was a little scout, and a big smile crosses his face. He sings, “I’m going on a bear hunt and I’m not afraid” (hear the author Michael Rosen perform this story).  Deep down inside, The Emotional Sherpa feels some strong emotions well up. He doesn’t like those feelings so he lifts his head high, puffs out his chest, and picks up his pace. Speaking of new technology, the Sherpa just bought an IPhone 6. He turns it on and starts singing,  I’m On My Way by the Proclaimers. He’s on his way to meet new people, see new places. He will travel across valleys, through forests, and up steep hillsides. He will forge streams, and navigate across unknown territory. He will encounter other hikers with different ways of being in the world. He will stay at different hiker’s homes, dance with villagers, and hear many a life story along his way.

The Emotional Sherpa has a skip in his step as a floats back in time and hears Dr. Seuss say, ” You’re off to great places! Today is the day! You’re mountain is waiting so get on your way!”

Here are some Tips from the Trail to guide you fellow hikers into the Emotional Sherpa’s next chapter.

1. Gaining insight into what you carry on your own back is the first step toward better emotional health.

2. Once you are aware of the words, or phrases you automatically repeat to yourself,  just notice them without beating on yourself even more. Say, “Wow, there’s that thought track again.” Make note of your Self Talk. What are your thought tracks or patterns? I call them the auto thought train tracks. These thought tracks become deeply embedded in our brains when we travel them over, and over and over.  Visit this series of  American Psychological Association articles for more information.

3. To derail these less than honorable, dead end, or not serving me well thought tracks, you have to recognize these well worn tracks, make the choice to pull the switch, and turn down a new track system. Like anything worth mastering, it takes practice, practice, practice.

Stay tuned and find out how the Emotional Sherpa learns how to choose a new thought track, which leads him to a new way of feeling, and in turn a new way of walking in this world.

Happy trails today, Allison

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