There is a saying that says, “What we resist, persists.”
This saying can ring true in many ways. This can be particularly applicable in the case of feeling emotions. Instead of resisting negative emotions, make peace with them by identifying what you are feeling and where you are feeling it. Learn to process these emotions with non-judgment.
Feeling to Heal
It is easy for the human mind to try to intellectualize getting rid of emotions rather than feel them. Growing up, you may not have been taught to normalize, accept, and feel emotions. Unfortunately, negative or difficult emotions are often deemed “bad”.
Learning that emotions are not good or bad, and are instead neutral, is essential in making peace with them. You must allow yourself to feel your emotions rather than push them away to experience healing from them.
Building Awareness
One of the first steps toward feeling your emotions is to begin building awareness around exactly what emotion you are feeling and where you feel it in your body. It can be beneficial to do this with a therapist who can guide you to process emotional scars and learn new ways of coping with emotions.
To start, set aside a time each day where you check in with yourself. During this check-in, ask yourself questions like:
- What emotion am I feeling right now?
- Where am I feeling this emotion in my body?
- What if these emotions and sensations are not good or bad, but are just neutral? How could I accept what I am experiencing right now, and allow what I am feeling to be okay?
Normalizing Emotions With Non-Judgment
Feeling your emotions involves normalizing what you are feeling. Remind yourself that feelings are not good or bad, that everyone experiences emotions, and that what you are feeling is okay.
Learning to approach your emotional experiences with non-judgment is a process, and it takes time to feel comfortable doing so. Engaging in this process is how you begin healing, and it requires you to lean into discomfort and uncertainty. When you learn to relate to your emotions differently through therapy, acceptance, and nonjudgement, you can experience relief and safety in feeling your feelings.
Learning how to feel your emotions is required to heal and experience freedom from persistent and uncomfortable emotions. This process can be challenging, especially if you have spent most of your life running from, numbing, and avoiding emotions. Emotions can feel scary, and it can be hard to know how to regulate and process them without support. At Avalon Malibu, our team will support you in your process of learning to feel in order to heal. Call Avalon Malibu at (844) 857-5992.
