The Connection Between Body and Feelings

A Woman Paying Attention to Her Feelings in Her Body

In my journey of personal growth, I have come to understand the importance of recognizing and processing our emotions. I’ve noticed many individuals are eager to develop emotionally, actively seeking out therapy, reading self-help books, practicing meditation, and becoming more in tune with their bodies. I’ve realized that when people acknowledge their feelings and understand their origins, they often experience relief and improved emotional well-being.

To truly grow, it is essential to be aware of your feelings and permit yourself to experience them fully. Many believe that the key to emotional growth lies in ignoring their feelings, thinking they can escape discomfort. In reality, the opposite is true. We do not feel better by ignoring our emotions; instead, we feel better by feeling and experiencing them. Attempting to suppress your feelings will only prolong your suffering, as it leaves you disconnected from what you genuinely feel. Consequently, the underlying reasons for your distress remain unclear, leaving you confused about your suffering and what messages your emotions are trying to convey.

The Benefits of Knowing Your Feelings

Understanding your feelings offers numerous benefits beyond just feeling better. When you know how you feel, you also gain insight into how others feel. This increased awareness fosters empathy, which can improve your relationships with loved ones. Additionally, being attuned to your emotions can enhance your success at work, as much of your professional achievement depends on how you treat others. Empathy plays a crucial role in your interactions with colleagues and clients. Moreover, understanding your feelings contributes to overall success in life. Many individuals are hindered by negative emotions that prevent them from achieving their goals. By growing emotionally and becoming more aware of your feelings, you can break through the limitations they impose on you.

Understanding your feelings takes time. Three years ago, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Initially, I focused on acknowledging my emotions and exploring why I felt that way. Later, I began reading books to deepen my understanding of these feelings. This became a breakthrough moment for me. It not only helped me comprehend and manage my emotions, but it also improved my ability to connect with my clients and support them on their growth journeys. The results were remarkable. I noticed that my clients became more committed to therapy and felt optimistic about their progress. They experienced therapy as an adventure, in which they discovered their internal worlds.

Ways to Know Your Feelings

There are many ways to learn about your feelings. One effective approach is meditation, which involves paying close attention to your emotions. Take a moment to slow down, reflect, and identify what you're feeling.

Another option is to seek therapy with a qualified therapist who has a strong awareness of their own feelings. A therapist who is in touch with their emotions is better equipped to help you connect with yours.

Reading can also be beneficial, whether you read a book or listen to an audiobook. If you choose this method, it's important to pause and reflect on how the author's messages relate to your own experiences.

Your Feelings Reside in Your Body

True growth arises not just from understanding your feelings intellectually but from experiencing them in the moment. Fully embracing your emotions is essential for personal development and overcoming negativity. To achieve this, connect the emotion to the event that triggered it. Visualize yourself in that situation again and concentrate on your feelings at that time. Immerse yourself fully in those emotions and observe how they manifest in your body now.

This is an exciting way of gaining awareness of your feelings. Our emotions are closely tied to our bodies; they truly reside within us. By paying attention to our bodies, we can observe how our emotions manifest physically. I remember a period from my youth when I attempted to connect with my feelings through meditation. During that time, I discovered just how tense I was. While sitting still, I couldn’t feel my body; my legs were tight, and I struggled to sense the ground beneath my feet. However, after four months of meditation, I experienced a transformation: I learned to relax and feel the ground beneath my feet.

You may have heard about the stress response, also known as the fight, flight, and freeze response. When you feel threatened, unloved, disrespected, or hurt, you can experience the physical effects of stress. Stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and glucocorticoids are released into your bloodstream, triggering an immediate response in your body. You may feel intense tension, and your heart rate and blood pressure will rise, prompting a reaction that could involve confronting the issue, fleeing, or freezing.

When you notice a physical reaction, identify where it occurs. It might be in your chest (the most common area reported by my clients), but it can also manifest in your stomach, face, head, or even throughout your entire body. Take note of any shifts in your body and remain aware of what’s happening.

Although it may not be possible to pause and assess your feelings in the moment, later, when you have time to reflect, you can revisit the experience and connect with your emotions. You may recall what you felt physically, and this recollection can help you understand what you felt and why you felt it. If you feel those sensations again, it is a positive sign that you are progressing in understanding your feelings and growing emotionally.

The Powerful Effect of Knowing Your Feelings

It is incredible how knowing our feelings can have such a powerful effect. The more we understand how we feel and the more aware we are of our bodies, the healthier we are emotionally. When you know how you feel, you can explore what caused that feeling. It may have a present trigger based on something that has happened to you. However, in many cases, this is actually the result of experiences from earlier in life, sometimes dating back to childhood. Some events that occurred as early as the womb can influence our current feelings and reactions. Sometimes, you can pinpoint exactly what triggered these present experiences. Other times, you may not know because it happened before you were old enough to remember. Nevertheless, your brain retains this memory implicitly, and it resurfaces in the present when you feel triggered by something.

Understanding your feelings allows you to uncover the messages they carry. These messages often reflect your self-view and perceptions of others. If you hold negative beliefs about yourself and those around you, these views can be interconnected, fostering distrust. You may come to believe that people do not love or care for you, and interpret their actions as intentionally harmful. This mindset can lead you to think they don’t care because deep down, you might feel unworthy of their care. As a result, it becomes difficult to accept love from others when you believe you do not deserve it.

Discovering the Messages Underneath Our Feelings

By examining how you truly feel and identifying the underlying causes, you can question the accuracy of the messages associated with those feelings. Is it true that people don’t care for you? Do they genuinely intend to hurt you? They may believe you wish to harm them and are instead trying to protect themselves. However, you may misinterpret their actions as hostile because you think they lack love and concern for you. You might view them as selfish, focusing only on their own needs.

By better understanding your emotions, you can challenge the validity of the messages behind them. Disputing these messages can lead to improved feelings. This process encourages greater self-awareness and compassion for others, helping you see that their words and actions are often influenced by their own experiences, rather than being a direct reflection of you.

Invitation to Connect with Yourself and Others

I invite you to explore your emotions. Connecting with your feelings is essential for self-love. It’s challenging to love yourself if you ignore or dismiss your emotions. Embracing yourself means acknowledging and accepting your feelings, even when they are painful or negative. By confronting these emotions and practicing empathy and compassion towards yourself for the discomfort they cause, you can find a greater sense of well-being.

I hope you embark on this journey. As I mentioned, this is an adventure. I feel excited every time I take a moment to meditate or conduct a session with a client. When I give a session, I connect with my client’s emotions through my own emotions. I realize that his feelings have a lot to do with mine. I find myself deeply connected with my client, which is exhilarating.

By embarking on this journey of understanding your feelings, you’ll also enhance your ability to connect with others. You’ll feel them because you have learned to feel yourself. You’ll be present with them because you’re more present with yourself.

Remember to explore the ways to connect with your feelings. You can do this through meditation, reading, attending therapy, and being mindful of your body. This process requires time and effort. The benefits include increased happiness, stronger relationships, and greater success in life. Ultimately, you will learn to love yourself and others, which is more important than anything else. Connecting to yourself and others will bring a deep sense of satisfaction.