Honoring Your Emotions: A Practice for Greater Emotional Balance
So often in life, we find ourselves rushing through our days, trying to push past uncomfortable emotions, or thinking that we have to be happy all the time. But the truth is, it’s perfectly normal and natural to experience a wide range of emotions, and each one carries value in our personal growth.
Honoring your emotions, rather than suppressing them, can help you achieve emotional balance and true well-being.During our chat, my daughter mentioned a friend who had ended a relationship because the person gave her "the ick." For those unfamiliar with the term, "the ick" refers to that feeling of sudden irritation, discomfort, or even repulsion that arises when someone exhibits a behavior or trait that doesn’t sit well with you. It’s often a small, seemingly insignificant action, but it can make all the difference in how we perceive a person.
What Does It Mean to Honor Your Emotions?
To honor your emotions means to give yourself permission to fully feel what you’re experiencing, without judgment or resistance. Instead of avoiding or denying your emotions, you consciously choose to acknowledge them. You can say, “I see you, I feel you, and I welcome you,” as a way to gently accept the feeling in your body.
This act of acceptance doesn’t mean you’re identifying with the emotion or letting it control you—it means you’re simply allowing yourself to experience it. Think of emotions as visitors that come and go. You don't have to let them move in, but you can greet them when they arrive. By doing so, you’re affirming your humanity. Emotions are a part of being alive—they teach us, they guide us, and they help us evolve.
Why Do We Resist Emotions Like Anger or Sadness?
It's easy to want to avoid difficult emotions like anger, frustration, or resentment because they make us feel uncomfortable. Our instinct may be to push these feelings away, thinking that if we ignore them, they’ll go away. But often, this resistance only makes the emotion stronger. The more you try to push something away, the more it seems to cling to you.
When you resist, you’re giving power to the emotion. Instead, by acknowledging it and allowing yourself to feel it, you take back control. You don’t need to stay stuck in anger or frustration, but by first embracing them, you can then consciously choose when to release them.
Shifting Negative Emotions: From Anger to Gratitude
If you find yourself feeling stuck in a negative emotion—whether it’s anger, sadness, or frustration—one of the best things you can do is practice gratitude. Grounding yourself in gratitude can help shift your focus and lighten your emotional load. Try to find something that fills you with gratitude in the moment—maybe the warmth of the sun on your face, the sound of birds chirping outside, or even a cherished poem or memory.
This simple shift in focus has the power to change your perspective. Gratitude helps you create space for more positive emotions, allowing you to detach from negativity. It acts as an anchor that can bring you back to a more peaceful, centered state of mind.
How to Honor Your Emotions and Shift Your Focus
Acknowledge Your Emotions: When you feel a negative emotion arising, instead of ignoring it or pushing it away, take a moment to acknowledge it. Say to yourself, “I see you, I feel you, and I welcome you.” Recognize the emotion, but don’t identify with it.
Feel the Emotion: Let yourself feel the emotion fully. Sit with it for a few minutes, without judgment. Notice how it feels in your body. This is an important step in truly honoring your emotions.
Ask What It’s Teaching You: Often, emotions like anger or sadness are messages about something in your life. Ask yourself: “What is this emotion teaching me? What do I need right now?” This can help you gain insight and move forward with greater clarity.
Shift Your Focus to Gratitude: Once you’ve processed the emotion, shift your focus to gratitude. Find something in the present moment that brings you joy or peace. Let gratitude guide you to a new emotional state.
Release What No Longer Serves You: Finally, when you feel ready, consciously choose to release the emotion. Thank it for the lesson and let it go. This allows you to make room for new, uplifting emotions.
Honoring your emotions is a powerful way to create emotional balance and resilience in your life. By acknowledging your feelings and allowing yourself to feel them fully, you not only embrace your humanity but also gain control over how you respond to life’s challenges. Remember, emotions are temporary—they come and go. You have the power to choose when to let them go and when to embrace them.
This week, let’s honor our emotions, allow ourselves to feel what we need to feel, and ground ourselves in gratitude to shift our perspective. Life is a beautiful journey, and honoring your emotions is a key part of navigating it with grace.
Wishing you peace, clarity, and emotional balance this week.
I’m Krista Ryan
My job is to help you learn a little, laugh a lot, and get clear on action steps for your success.
It may have taken a life changing event to shake me awake and decide I no longer wanted to live a comfortable life… I wanted to embrace the discomfort and live a life of courage and intention.
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