I remember feeling many emotions as a teenage girl. Happy, excited, frustrated, irritated.
For much of that season of my life, I mostly felt irritated by my mother. We were blessed with a good relationship, I just did not understand how to acknowledge or express what emotions I was feeling or that my body was going through natural changes that all girls experience.
I am sure that was a challenging time for my mom raising 3 young girls as a single mother.
She trusted God to guide her in raising her children.
Praise God! Today we share a healthy Christ-centered relationship.
As a part of my women’s ministry, I encourage young girls to set their hearts and minds on seeking and abiding in a true covenant relationship with God by:
- Having an obedient faith
- Praying daily
- Reading Scripture daily
- Writing their thoughts and feelings in a journal to process emotions
Understanding their identity in God
- God created them in His image Genesis 1:27
- God created mankind (men & women) with a body, soul, and spirit
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
The soul is the part of mankind where our emotions, thoughts, opinions, and feelings begin
Effective strategies for young girls to manage emotions
- Acknowledge what emotion you are feeling
- I am a visual learner. This color-coded feelings wheel from the University of Arkansas helps me identify what emotion I am feeling. Once I acknowledge my emotion, I give myself time to feel it and not suppress/bury it. Then I seek healthy ways to manage it.
- Reading the Psalms during times of emotional despair, grief, anger or joy comforts the soul. The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs expressing the full range of human emotion and human experience.
- Praying Scripture
- Self-care: Steward your mind and body
- Commune with God in nature
- Deep breathing
- Move your body with exercise
- Disconnect from social media – there are many statistics on social media addictions and the negative effects of social media on mental health
- Aromatherapy (Essential oils)
- Diffuse or apply topically essential oils that support your nervous system
- Diffuser jewelry (bracelets, earrings, necklaces)
6. Christian Counseling
The first time I saw a psychologist was during my ministry training to assess if I was mentally and emotionally well to be able to serve others. It was comforting talking about my past, emotions, and desire to serve God and others.
I highly recommend seeking a Christian counselor if you are experiencing:
+ Anxiety
+Using unhealthy coping skills
+Thoughts of harming yourself or others
+Your psychological health is affecting your physical health
+A traumatic experience
+Difficult family or relationship dynamics
If this was helpful for you read my blog “Emotional Hurt & Spiritual Growth”
I pray that you will walk by faith and have abundant joy in Jesus!
God bless you
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