Do you sometimes feel baffled by your own unrestrained behaviors and your need for immediate gratification? For example: when a craving for junk food hits, you catch yourself thinking, “Hey, ya only live once!”
Meet…the “Inner Rebel.”
Now, you probably know a fair amount about good nutrition, but you may find yourself repeatedly making poor food choices. And, I’m not talking about an occasional splurge—I’m talking about frequent over-consumption of unhealthy foods. Eventually, for many who get stuck in the over-consumption cycle, health challenges can begin to crop up, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Sadly, many of us receive “wake-up calls” that are delivered to us via health crises. Can you relate? If so, then your “Inner Rebel” may be wreaking havoc on your health.
Now, before we address this challenge, here’s a question to consider: Are there any benefits from expressing the “Inner Rebel?”
Actually, the Inner Rebel has some valuable gifts to offer. First, there’s a spiciness and enthusiasm that come from healthy levels of rebellious energy. For example, if we think of a rebellious teen, we might picture someone who is coming into his or her own by “breaking out of the box” of the role he or she played in the family. This time of individuating from one’s family is normal and healthy—so that teens eventually fly from the nest—surviving, thriving, and expressing who they are…on their own.
Meanwhile, adults who positively embrace their rebellious energies may be expressing their unique creativity and purpose. For some, this requires “swimming against” an ancestral or societal current—in a quest to courageously pursue an important dream or goal.
For instance, in her early career, Oprah Winfrey rebelled against being demoted from her job as a news anchor, after being told she “wasn’t fit for television.” If Oprah hadn’t rebelled, we would’ve missed the opportunity to enjoy years of her inspiring talk shows. Thank God Oprah had the guts to successfully swim against that early turbulent current!
However, the dark side of “rebellious teen” energy can be the feeling of indestructibility. For instance: thinking that he or she can drink and drive (without dangerous consequences), text while driving, function on little sleep—all while eating and drinking “super-sized” junk food. Whew!
Many of us remember our own impulsive “teen years” and are grateful to have gotten through them. On the other hand, some folks stay stuck in their teenage behaviors and chronically struggle with an “Inner Rebel” who continually impacts their health and their relationships in negative ways.
So, let’s shift our focus now, and explore an “overview” that includes descriptions of rebellious energy being repressed, expressed constructively, or expressed destructively (see diagram). It helps to think of rebellious energies in terms of a continuum.
If you look at the far-left category of the diagram, you’ll see “Repressed.” Qualities of repressed rebelliousness can include the following: an avoidance of taking healthy risks, living a constricted life, feeling energetically frozen, and intensely fearful of…”what will people think?”
Next, if you look at the middle category of the diagram, you’ll see “Constructive.” Qualities of constructive rebelliousness can include the following: taking calculated risks in life, living adventurously (yet mindfully), feeling free-flowing energy, and experiencing fear (when it’s appropriate).
Now, if you look at the far-right category of the diagram, you’ll see “Destructive.” Qualities of destructive rebelliousness can include the following: taking unhealthy/dangerous risks in life, feeling “indestructible,” acting impulsively (without weighing consequences), and feeling fearless.
The good news is that there are many tools available for taming an “Inner Rebel” to create healthier (and more balanced) responses to life. Feel free to call me to set up an appointment to discuss this further and hear about the tools I offer. I work with many clients who are learning to appreciate their spiciness and playfulness — without allowing their “Inner Rebels”…to wreak havoc on their health.
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Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal. She currently has a private practice in downtown Danville. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com.
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.
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