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Emotions are Energy in Motion
Emotions can seem mysterious until we understand that emotions are simply energy moving within our body. We don’t tend to enjoy feeling intense emotions. Even the emotions that we often think of as positive can be experienced as quite unpleasant and overwhelming if the intensity is too high. But conceptualizing emotions as energy that simply needs to move through our bodies can help us begin to let go of negative conditioning and fear we have been taught around feeling and expressing intense emotions.
Learning How to Feel Our Feelings
Part of being human is learning how to facilitate the movement of emotional energy through our bodies. It is part of learning how to care for ourselves. Energy cannot be created and it cannot be destroyed; it can only change form.
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
So, by the laws of physics, the emotional energy that arises in our body will be expressed in some way. This is why avoidance and repression don’t work as long term solutions when dealing with emotions—they just force the energy to come out sideways in some unrecognizable, and often damaging and destructive way, like abusive behavior, depression, or physical illness.
How Do We Move the Energy?
We can facilitate the movement of emotional energy in many ways. Some of these things we might do instinctively, thanks to the incredible wisdom of the body, but learning to engage with our emotions in an intentional way is still a worthwhile pursuit.
Building emotional intelligence allows us to consciously respond to our feelings, instead of mindlessly reacting, and relating to our emotions mindfully can help us avoid falling into problematic coping strategies.
Ways to express and move emotional energy:
- Be Embodied.
Embodiment is the baseline prerequisite for feeling our emotions, because emotions are, by nature, an embodied experience. All emotions happen and are felt through the body. Often people mistakenly think of emotions as happening in the mind, because so often they are accompanied by thoughts and/or memories.
- Practice Interoception.
- Move.
Moving our body with the intention of expelling pent up energy is not a new concept, but it sure is a powerful one. Going for a run, boxing, walking, yoga, hitting pillows, throwing and smashing safe objects, swimming, even gentle stretching, are all highly effective ways of moving emotional energy through the body.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
When we move with intention—when we actually think about what we are doing and why we are doing it—we activate the cognitive parts of our brain, which allows for deeper levels of integration and self-awareness, and in the long run, strengthens our ability to self-regulate and bring ourselves back to equilibrium.
Most of us are walking around with negative thoughts about ourselves, our bodies, and our emotions. Approaching these beliefs with curiosity and compassion helps us move toward a place of acceptance and calm, as opposed to the fear and shame behind emotional avoidance and repression.
- Practice Self-Compassion.
Most of us are walking around with negative thoughts about ourselves, our bodies, and our emotions. Approaching these beliefs with curiosity and compassion helps us move toward a place of acceptance and calm, as opposed to the fear and shame behind emotional avoidance and repression.
Meet the Author
Photo by Allie Clarke Photography
Would you like to turn your attention inward and deepen your self-compassion? Maggie is a therapist based out of Lawrence, Kansas who specializes in therapy for highly sensitive adults, therapy for self-esteem, therapy for anxiety, therapy for childhood trauma, and grief and bereavement counseling.
Maggie is passionate about helping people overcome shame and the fear of being their true selves. Breaking the cycles of people-pleasing and self-abandonment is possible; you don't have to suffer alone. Maggie offers online therapy throughout the state of Kansas.
Reach out today to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation!
Maggie is passionate about helping people overcome shame and the fear of being their true selves. Breaking the cycles of people-pleasing and self-abandonment is possible; you don't have to suffer alone. Maggie offers online therapy throughout the state of Kansas.
Reach out today to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation!
Other Services Offered By Maggie
In addition to providing online therapy anywhere in Kansas, Maggie is also a professional astrologer, and offers Birth Chart Readings anywhere in the United States, as well as abroad.
Astrology is a powerful tool for gaining self-awareness, finding meaning in and understanding of our difficult experiences, and for receiving validation regarding our own unique life path. All of which supports our mental health in a positive way!
Interested in getting a Natal Chart Reading? Book a free phone consultation and let’s get started!