Emotions are what make us alive. Joy, sadness, anger, excitement, fear—all of these are part of who we are. But sometimes emotions can feel overwhelming in their intensity. For example, it’s hard to sit with anger or fear, so we often either run away from them or suppress them to avoid feeling.
The truth is, it’s important not to fear your emotions. There’s a phrase from Art of Accomplishment that resonates deeply with me: “sitting in the fire.” It means staying with yourself even when emotions feel overwhelming—choosing not to run or avoid. When you sit in that "fire," you begin to see that emotions don’t destroy you. Instead, they bring something valuable: energy, clarity, and release.
Every emotion carries its own energy.
Fear helps us recognize danger, but when it becomes too much, it starts to control us. In the body, fear often shows up as tension—tight shoulders, a clenched stomach. When we give ourselves time to fully feel fear instead of running from it, it stops being paralyzing and becomes a signal for action.
Irritation is not a "bad" emotion, as many people think. It points to boundaries that are being crossed by someone or something. But if irritation isn’t expressed—or if we only experience it through conflict—it can get stuck in the body. Breathing, movement, and awareness can help “translate” irritation into a clear understanding of your needs.
Calmness is not the absence of emotions. It’s a state where we accept everything that’s happening. When the body is relaxed and the mind isn’t resisting feelings, we realize that even in chaos, there’s something solid to hold onto. Calmness isn’t something we get from the outside; it’s a state we can find within ourselves.
Sometimes strong emotions can get stuck in the body—anger becomes tight shoulders, fear turns into a clenched jaw, and sadness into a feeling of heaviness. Somatic therapy helps us process these emotions gently, without pushing them away, and with care for ourselves.
When we allow ourselves to feel the full spectrum of emotions, life becomes brighter. Joy feels deeper, and heavy feelings stop being so frightening. We begin to live, not avoid.
Emotions are not something to fight against. They’re what make us who we are. 🌿
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