The Power in Leaking
Last week on our first day of vacation in San Francisco, I had a literal run-in with a Segway. Newsflash: Segways can be dangerous. So here I am 10 days later in a walking boot and crutches--no breaks, just a bone bruise, and ankle sprain. To say the least, it has been a challenging couple of weeks.
Frustrations can hit at any time, whether it is a health issue, getting the kids ready to head back to school, a conflict with your spouse, a challenging conversation at work. Life certainly throws us curveballs. And that is where the concept of leaking comes in.
Leaking, a term coined by my nearest and dearest, means releasing emotion through your eyes. So it isn't that someone has necessarily hurt you or that you are sad. It is an overwhelm of emotion coming out through your eyes. It can be frustration, fear, sadness, or even happiness. I am a HUGE fan of leaking. It isn't the ugly cry; it is the 'I don't know why I am crying" cry. It is leaking.
Last weekend after the Segway crash, I went to my cousin's baby shower. In my boot, using a knee scooter. I was so excited to be there (the shower is what brought us to San Francisco) to celebrate her future little one. However, by the time we got home, I was exhausted. As we walked into the house, I just started leaking—a release of the pressure cooker a bit.
Studies show tears are healthy. Tears release toxins and encourage endorphins which is an incredible combination. Leaking gets such a bad wrap, but it is a normal, healthy reaction to life's stresses in so many ways. This week I have been doing A LOT of leaking. It has been normal for me to start tearing up and say, "I just need to leak a little bit." And my nearest and dearest hugs me, and off we go. He knows it isn't his fault. He knows he didn't DO anything to make me sad. He knows that I am overwhelmed, and I will be ok.
So tomorrow, when your son criticizes you for putting the wrong jelly on his sandwich, and your boss ridicules you for missing a deadline, and you feel overwhelmed, remember it is ok to leak. It is ok to give yourself a release of emotion. It is ok to take a pause and remember that leaking is healthy.