A few months ago, I participated in the AEQ Method program for increasing emotional maturity. Due to my chronic issues, I was often under the illusion that they were simply a part of me, that they would disappear once I had time to rest, and that they held no deeper meaning. I decided to join the program because, despite all the illusions, my inner voice wouldn’t let me rest and a “red warning light” was already flashing in the background.

During the program, I experienced fluctuations—from good days, when I felt like nothing much had shifted inside me, to days when I touched upon painful corners within myself that I didn’t even know existed. Those days were exhausting. Facing painful realizations about myself, about people close to me, and especially coming to terms with the fact that I would have to actually take concrete action—not just reflect on things in my mind—is challenging.

Personally, I can say that by now, I’m quite good in theory. I recognize my feelings, I can explain them to myself. Unfortunately, everything gets stuck when it comes to taking action. I still lack the strength, I look for excuses, or my body holds me back from resolving things and relationships. The first program taught me how to be attentive to parts of my body, to the tension and discomfort within them, to connect these with the emotions that are present at the time, and to place them into a broader mosaic of life. For me, that’s a significant step forward, and I also realize that the goal is still far away. But now I can at least see and define it more clearly. To get there, I will probably need to attend another program and approach the exercises with more consistency.

Unfortunately, we humans tend to only commit time and energy when we’re already suffering deeply. I’m grateful and glad that the AEQ Method exists—a logical, meaningful, and professional method that confronts us without sugarcoating with the reality: “Will you fix your life or keep suffering through your struggles?”

Andreja Mlinar