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Our emotions are neurochemical physical pain sensations.
They deserve the same compassion that we give to someone in any other form of pain.
When you show compassion towards someone's emotional pain you aren't "encouraging" them to wallow in emotions ..you're giving them the chance to feel understood and supported in the midst of suffering.
Avoid focusing too much on fairness when teaching kids, as it can create a belief that good behavior is always rewarded and bad behavior is always punished, leading to the dangerous belief that they deserve any trauma they experience, instead use relational motivation to guide them towards making good choices.
Self-hatred is a product of insecure attachment and other traumas, but the first step towards self-love is to grieve and open up to the pain present in your attachment relationships and to see yourself in a new light.
Learn the benefits of playing make believe with your kids, how it helps their brains and your bond with them, and get fun ideas for make believe scenarios to try, including playing wild animals on the way to lunch and defending a castle against stinky underwear, in this insightful video.