When most of us think of the word ‘health’ we usually think of our physical body.
But our health is so much MORE than just the physical.
It’s our relationships.
It’s our mind.
It’s our environment.
It’s our connection with a bigger purpose.
It’s our emotions.
And THIS is what I want to talk about today – Emotional Health.
Before I go any further, I have to admit that I’m by no means an expert in this area. I still have a ways to go with my own emotional health. But I have learned a lot over the past few years and that’s what I want to share with you today.
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that we’ve all been raised in a society that teaches us to suppress our emotions – both positive and negative.
If we’re sad, we’re told to cheer up.
If we’re angry, we’re told to relax and try to be happy.
If we’re happy, we’re taught to tone it down so we don’t make those around us feel bad.
If we’re depressed, we’re given medication.
We’re taught that negative emotions are something that we shouldn’t feel. That if we feel these emotions there must be something “wrong” with us.
We’re taught to tone down our positive emotions to “blend” in with society. To not seem “too” happy or excited. To not scream and jump with joy. To not dance and frolic in public. Heaven forbid we offend anyone or our happiness rubs off on them!
It’s so backward.
And it’s making us sick.
Studies are now popping up showing how our emotional health directly relates to our physical health.
In Gabor Mate’s book “When the Body Says No: The Hidden Cost of Stress”, he shares countless case studies of people (usually women) who suppress their emotions and true feelings over many years. Not speaking their truth. Not letting their energy flow. Not releasing these emotions. And these studies show that there is a growing link between trapping our emotions inside and developing serious diseases like M.S. and dementia. Our blood pressure rises. We hold on to fat in our cells. And we reach for unhealthy foods to help us avoid these negative emotions which only leads to addiction and further damage to our health.
We begin to reach for anything that will give us a happy hit of dopamine when we’re feeling “down”. Give me that sugar. Give me that drink. Give me anything that will take me away from feeling what I’m feeling.
We’ve become so uncomfortable with really FEELING our emotions that we look for the quickest way out of them.
Over the past few years, I’ve met 3 people who have shared their stories of dramatic weight loss with me. They didn’t do anything extraordinary in the way they lived their lives (they still eat sugar!). But what made the difference for them was finally working through past trauma and learning to release the emotions they were holding on to. Fascinating right!?
What if our solution to finding our best health was to learn to release our emotions instead of suppressing them?
I believe it’s not the ONLY solution, but it is a HUGE part of the solution to our health epidemic.
This isn’t a clear or tangible process. There’s no quick pill or fix. And this is WHY we don’t talk about emotional health in our society. There’s no product to sell you that will help you with this.
So, what can you do?
Learn to identify, accept and love ALL of your emotions.
If you’re feeling depressed, stressed, angry, happy…. Own it. Accept your emotion. Feel every edge of it. Say it out loud. Tell it to a friend. Write it down. Do NOT apologize for feeling the way you’re feeling.
This is the ONLY way to let it flow through you and pass.
What you resist, will persist.
Stop trying to stuff your emotions deep down. They will NOT go away and they will probably end up making you sick. They will only intensify and dig holes deep within you.
Emotions are energy. Energy needs to flow freely. Let those emotions flow!
This is such an important topic and process to start practicing in your own life which is exactly why I’m dedicating a WHOLE month to emotional health over in the Sugar Freedom Collective in January!
If you’re not already a member of our amazing community, you should be 😉 Come and join us HERE and don’t miss out on the upcoming meditation challenge, holiday prep, conversation around emotional health, and more!
Love & Light,
Dani