In many of my blogs I write about ‘feeling your feelings’ and this month I want to dive deeper into both how and why I believe this to be imperative to your emotional wellbeing.

Suppressed emotions

Many, if not most of us, have been taught to ignore or suppress our emotions to the point that we don’t even know how to fully feel them. I certainly was and it has taken me many years to not only learn to lean into the pain and hurt I’m feeling, but also to acknowledge my feelings. Once we have mastered this skill, we begin to cultivate a deeper connection to our emotions which, in turn, encourages us to carve out the time and space for self-healing.

Tune in to your innermost feelings

When uncomfortable emotions come up we often tell ourselves that we are just being stupid and push them away. You are not stupid, you have the right to feel how you feel, so give yourself permission and take a moment to allow yourself to tune into your innermost feelings. Perhaps you have the time to make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and give yourself permission to pause; give yourself permission to feel.

Be gentle with yourself, especially if this is a new experience for you. It is one of my mantras which I share with many of my healing and meditation clients as well as with my friends. When someone you know is upset, you are wonderful at showing them love and kindness and it is time to do the same for yourself!

Feel your own feelings

We need to allow ourselves to feel our own feelings and allow these emotions to move through us. Naturally, the joyful emotions bring us pleasure but as we feel into the more unpleasant emotions, it can be painful. We need to allow ourselves to feel all of our feelings and to allow these emotions to pass through us so that we can in turn let them go. In learning to acknowledge our feelings, we can become empowered in our own emotional wellbeing.

A practice for feeling your feelings

The way in which I have learnt to observe and feel my feelings is to allow myself to sit in the discomfort, letting go of any and all judgment. I take a moment to focus on my breathing, on my in breath and on my out breath, letting my breath calm and soothe me, enabling my body to relax. As my body relaxes and my breathing begins to settle, I am then able to take long slow calming breaths and with that I begin to let go. My body softens and I am able to observe how I am feeling, I begin to observe what I am feeling from the experiences and from the conversations that have knocked me off-kilter. I then begin to identify and acknowledge my emotions and can start to make sense of them.

Let your feelings come up to the surface – let yourself feel them. Some will be joyful and others possibly more painful but that’s okay. We all have feelings for a reason, they are a wonderful barometer of who we are and of how we tick. I urge you to give yourself permission, not only to acknowledge what you are feeling but to allow yourself to name them: good or bad, positive or negative. Don’t judge yourself, just allow yourself to acknowledge each and every emotion as it arises. Allow yourself to feel your feelings, let each and every one move through you and as you do, you’re allowing them to dissolve away rather than burying them deep within.

The longer-term benefits of feeling your feelings for emotional wellbeing

The more you do this practice the easier it will be to acknowledge what is going on for you. In time, you will begin to feel comfortable in the uncomfortable and you will be able to create a beautiful safe space for your own healing. Our emotions are a wonderful gift for self-healing, they are a barometer of where we are at in any given moment. In my own personal experience, sometimes it can take time for painful emotions to be properly felt but they are a beautiful gift for personal growth. There are times when we all need assistance – myself included.

Also in time, this practice will give you the confidence to verbalise how you are feeling to others without the need for blame or accusation. Through this process you will learn to nurture yourself and to be kinder to yourself. Ultimately, you will be cultivating a deeper connection with yourself through understanding your emotions. In learning to communicate your feelings and your emotions with others, you can encourage them to do the same – which allows you to enjoy healthy relationships.

Healing and Meditation

Healing and meditation are wonderful tools for knowing ourselves on a deeper level. We all react to the environment around us in positive or negative ways but many of us are unaware of what triggers us and possibly more importantly, why. As we learn to go deeper into how we feel in any given situation, we become more aware of our learnt behaviours and of our limiting beliefs. We then begin to understand what brings us joy and what makes us angry or upset. Acknowledging your feelings empowers you to be more in control of your emotional state of being.

I hope that what I have shared with you gives you the opportunity to learn to feel your feelings, helping you on your own journey of self-discovery.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions or if you’d like my support. I’d love to assist you on your healing journey and guide you through empowering meditations as you connect ever more deeply into who you truly are. I love holding space for each and every one of you. Contact me on +61 4 2451 8884 or email hello@pippaneve.com.