Feelings 101
So commonly ignored and avoided, feelings are actually necessary for our well-being. If you want to experience more peace in your life, then practice listening to what you’re feeling. Feelings are there to tell you what is missing and what you need in order to move forwards. Feelings are our body’s way of communicating to us that there is something we need to attend to. And if we don’t attend to it the way it needs to, then it may linger and take over us entirely without realizing it. For example, when we feel sad listening to our favorite song that reminds us of a lost grandparent and we don’t give the sadness the attention it needs in that moment, then the sadness may carry over to other parts in your life such as over-reacting to things that don’t go well in your day.
If we give our feelings acknowledgement in that moment, it will pass through us freely. So it is much better to allow yourself to feel your emotions instead of bottling it up, because it will spill out eventually (often in ways that you don’t want).
How can I start paying attention to my feelings?
This is a great question, especially considering that many of us aren’t aware of the vast array of emotions since we’ve been ignoring them as a society for so long. Make it a conscious effort to ask yourself, “what am I feeling?” throughout the day (especially if you’re a highly sensitive person, where you feel and experience emotions strongly). To learn more about feelings and how to identify what emotion you’re experiencing, check out this blog post from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/emotion-wheel#plutchik-wheel
What if I’m afraid of my feelings?
It is completely normal to feel afraid of your feelings, especially when the environment you grew up in wasn’t welcoming or nurturing of your feelings. Remind yourself that it is o.k. to feel feelings, that is what makes you human. And if you’re still feeling afraid, the good news is that there is a bunch of coping strategies you can use such as guided imagery, deep breathing exercise, journaling, and meditating to make yourself feel more comfortable with having and experiencing emotions.
