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Natural Awakenings Twin Cities

Honoring Our Emotions: Why It’s Important to Get in Touch with Feelings

Apr 30, 2019 10:29PM ● By Joyce Sobotta

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Honoring our emotions means to fully understand where these thoughts are coming from and how to handle them. When we take time to understand what caused an emotion by examining it in a kind and loving way, we can learn how to release it from our body.

A Need to Act On and Release Certain Emotions. A 2015 study from the University of Texas, in Austin, found that when we suppress our emotions, we become more aggressive. It’s been found that when feelings of anger, sadness, grief or frustration are ignored, they can lead to more stress on the body. Over time, untreated stress can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, problems with memory, aggression and depression.

Tuning into Our Body. It’s time to tune into our body and honor the emotions that are present. Take time to breathe. Identify where feelings are stuck in our body. Then, by diaphragmatic breathing, we will activate our vagus nerve—the longest of the cranial nerves. Signals traveling from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve have been linked to modulating mood and distinctive types of fear and anxiety.

In a 2014 study conducted at ETH Zurich, researchers discovered that messages also travel “downstream” from the conscious mind through the vagus nerve, signaling your organs to create an inner calm so you can “rest-and-digest” during times of safety, or to prepare your body for “fight-or-flight” in dangerous situations. In other words, among its many functions, the vagus nerve is responsible for regulating emotions. When we take deep, mindful breaths, we are tuning into our vagus nerve and literally massaging the intensity of our emotions.

Once we identify the emotion and where it is in our body, it is easier to figure out why we feel the way we do. When we examine it more thoroughly, it becomes easier to understand and let it go. That is why the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is so effective. This is one of the best ways to honor our emotions.

Deal with one emotion at a time and recognize there may be other feelings that need to be released. We get to listen to and be conscious of the messages we receive. Chronic fatigue or pain, an accident or an illness are all signs that tell us to change, reevaluate and move forward to a better place. What changes can we make for our highest good?

No emotions are bad, not even the unpleasant ones. They all have something to tell us. Any emotion can be considered good if we experience it fully and act on the message we get. Knowing what we are feeling in the moment is like coming home to our inner self, the self where we can feel, joy, peace and love.

Listening to Our Heart. As we work with our emotions, our best guides are our intuition and our heart. Go to a place of stillness—a sacred place where we connect with our higher self. Our intuition is working all the time; for instance, when choosing an essential oil for a physical or mental condition. It helps us make decisions and choices. With a clear intention, when we feel the energy or hear the message, it is easier to trust and be confident in our choice. We all can benefit from honoring our emotions, trusting our intuition and accepting the lessons we are given.

Joyce Sobotta has a BS in education and certifications in holistic aromatherapy and reflexology. She is the founder/owner of Healthy Girls Breast Oil and offers consultations and presentations to empower women with knowledge for natural breast health. For more information, visit AromatherapyNaturesWay.com