Checking your emotional baggage - Have you checked your baggage?
Okay, some of us have been luckier than others. We may have had great parents; we may have had wonderful, fulfilling intimate relationships; and we may have been cute and popular in high school. Great. Now what about the other 99.9% of us who struggle with all kinds of emotional baggage?
Being human means experiencing a range of emotions and developing the coping mechanisms to deal with good and bad times. What's leftover is called emotional baggage. But if we have baggage, does that mean that we can't find true love — that we're "damaged goods"? Of course not. Let's consider a few approaches to deal with excess baggage and lighten our load.
The baggage test
After a relationship ends, it's important to evaluate what happened. If you're lucky enough to be able to discuss the break-up with your ex, you may find closure and get ahead of the game — but some of us leave a relationship feeling angry, distrustful and confused.
If that sounds familiar, ask yourself how you contributed to the conflict in the relationship. Invest yourself in answering completely, and don't be surprised if you see patterns in your behavior from past relationships.Your
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