Feeling the Energy of Emotions

The Power of Sitting with What Arises

Emotions are energy. Energy in motion. They’re not good or bad, right or wrong – they are signals, trying to get your attention.

We are often taught to avoid or suppress emotions like anger, frustration, sadness, or disappointment. But these emotions aren’t the problem. The problem lies in what we do with them – or what we don’t do.

The Truth About Emotions

When an emotion arises, it brings with it information and energy. The moment you feel your chest tighten, your breath shortens, your muscles clench – that’s the body’s way of letting you know: “Something needs your attention.”

Short-term emotions like frustration, irritation, or anger – when met with mindfulness and curiosity – can actually be incredibly helpful.

They give us clarity.

When you’re willing to sit with that uncomfortable energy instead of lashing out, bottling it up or numbing it, you create space to ask:

• What is this emotion really trying to tell me?

• What need of mine isn’t being met right now?

• What boundary may need to be set?

• What part of me feels unseen, unheard or unworthy?

This is where emotions become a tool for healing, rather than a trigger for chaos.

Feeling the Energy, Not Reacting to It

Instead of reacting or repressing, try these healthy ways to move emotional energy:

1. Deep breathing – pause, breath deeply and give your nervous system a chance to reset.

2. Tap it out – EFT tapping (try the gamut point or collarbone points)

3. Move your body – take a walk, stretch, do yoga or a workout (knockout workouts are the best release).

4. Nature therapy – breathe with the earth, the trees, the sky.

5. Conscious release – hit a pillow, cry it out, journal writing (no thinking – just write – the truth will come out)

These practices allow emotions to flow through you without harming you or others.

When Anger Becomes a Mirror

Mindful awareness of emotions – especially anger – can actually reconnect us to our worth.

Anger and frustration are often signs that:

• Something feels unjust.

• A boundary has been crossed.

• A need has been ignored (often by ourselves).

• A part of you knows you deserve more.

When viewed through the lens of self-love, anger can be a flashlight illuminating where you may need to take a stand, speak up, or honor yourself more deeply.

Sitting with anger can also reveal honesty:
Maybe you overreacted. Maybe it’s an old belief – that you’re not worthy or deserving – rearing its head again. That clarity gives you the chance to heal with self-forgiveness, self-compassion and grace.

The Danger of Long-Term Anger

While short-term anger can be insightful, long-term unprocessed anger is toxic.
It’s detrimental to your emotional, physical and energetic health and to every relationship in your life!

Left to simmer, it can show up in two ways:

• Explosion: Over-reacting to everything. Relationships become strained, people start avoiding you and the world begins to feel like a battlefield.

• Implosion: Bottling it up. Numbing it. And that energy turns inward – leading to chronic stress, anxiety, disease, even chronic physical illness.

Anger that’s never felt, never processed, becomes resentment and grudge-holding.
Over time, this builds a victim story. And while you may feel justified in your story and your pain, it creates emotional and energetic dis-ease — and for some, literal disease.

You don’t need to be afraid of your emotions. Emotions are visitors – don’t slam the door in their face but don’t hand them the keys to your house either. Invite them in for tea & listen.

 The Invitation is to; Breathe, Feel, Release. Breathe into your emotions to feel them fully, conscious breathing will allow you to get curious as to why they showed up – listen in to their message so that a release can unfold. If the “visitor” insists on staying longer… then move! Move your body, shake, tap, go out into nature, workout, punch a pillow – then sit and listen again – write it out. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Feeling is so healing.

This week’s intention:

The next time a strong emotion rises up;

1. Feel it fully — with curiosity, not judgment.
2. Ask yourself; where do I feel this in my body?
3. Sit with it; sit with every & all the sensations AND if it’s a tender emotion – like grief or loss – don’t rush to fix it. Just embrace it, accept it & breathe with it. Let it soften on its own.
4. Choose one of those 5 healthy practices above to let all this energy now move & allow the release.

Let them move (be felt), let them pass through you & allow them to pass on – create space to let the clarity come in.

Sitting with and feeling your emotions & the sensations that come with them, can be uncomfortable. But on the other side of that discomfort is clarity, peace and freedom. I don’t know about you…but to me, some short-term discomfort is absolutely worth the long-term peace it leads to.

Here’s the truth: no one else can do this work for you. It’s your journey. It’s your emotions and they are yours to heal.

✨ If you’re ready to dive deeper, shift old patterns and explore the emotional work that leads to lasting transformation – I’m here to guide you. If you prefer to do it in a group setting there are a few upcoming retreats to choose from. 
Reach out to me at leslie@wellnessdefined.ca or click here to learn more about private coaching sessions. 

You don’t have to do it alone 💙

Namaste my friends;

Leslie 🙏