Our last blog was about your emotional ROI, or Return on Investment.  You will remember that it was focused on what kind of returns we are getting from our emotions: positive/profitable or negative/loss.  I hope that you have taken the time necessary to think this through.  There is no doubt that you are going to reap a return from your emotional investment.  It just depends on what you are investing in.

            But there arises another question: What about those men and women who aren’t making any emotional investment at all?  In other words, their emotions are walled off.  They don’t trust anyone enough to open up emotionally.  They are reluctant to be honest about how they feel and refuse to express anything close to love to anyone.  And then they wonder why they are getting no ROI.

            It is the rare person who is truly satisfied with their emotional isolation.  Keeping in mind that God made us for relationships and community, you have to wonder how these people survive emotionally.  Often it is out of fear.  It is easy to understand that they fear being hurt again, so they wall themselves off from others.  For others, it might be that they never learned the value of emotional connection.  It feels normal to them to be non-emotional.

            The problem for any of these people is that they miss out on the richness of having an emotional bond with someone.  They might be in relationships but they are sterile and without feeling.  Hence, there is no emotional ROI.  They won’t see an emotional profit because they are not making an emotional investment.

            Let me take you back to the business world.  When making any kind of investment there is rarely what you could call a “sure thing”.  This is true whether you’re talking about a capital purchase, like equipment, or the stock market.  You make the investment, planning and hoping that it turns out positive, while accepting the reality of the risk.  The same can be said about your emotions.  I have said for years that relationship is risk.  There is no way to guarantee that the person you love is going to return your love in the same way.  You give love because that is who you are, not because you are trying to manipulate love out of them.

            Risk in inherent in any investment, but without risk there is no possibility of profit.  Without taking an emotional risk, you may never find that you are truly loved.  You don’t have to jump in over your head, but you should consider beginning to plan and prayerfully taking some steps toward emotional expression.  Dwelling on the fears may feel safe, but it is also isolating. 

            You can experience positive emotional ROI.  You can walk in emotional freedom.  Allow yourself to bask in some emotional profit.  You will find that it is worth the risk. I can help with the process. Use the contact information below to get started.

Chuck Phillips Life Choices Christian Counseling, LLC

Licensed Christian Pastoral Counselor, N.C.C.A. Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach, I.B.C.C.

LifeChoicesCLC.Com LifeChoicesCLC@g