Humans are emotional beings. We’re programmed to express our feelings openly and without reservations.
Yet, starting from a young age, we’re taught to keep quiet and keep still. Society instills in us that this is how to be accepted and loved.
The truth is we all deal with a wide array of emotions, including fear, anger, and shame. We experience certain events, which trigger these feelings. Then, for numerous reasons, we’re unable to process our emotions and we manage them in all the wrong ways.
We all hide our feelings. It’s a natural defence mechanism or self-preservation if you will. Despite doing your best to hide these feelings from others and yourself, unresolved emotions only get worse with time.
They get stored in our muscles and organs. Not soon after that, they become septic and lead to mental and physical illnesses. The truth is we’re the ones creating this toxic environment. We’re literally making ourselves sick from the inside out.
If you’re suffering from repressed emotions, there are a couple of steps you can take to let them go once and for all. The first step is to know you’re not alone.
The second step is to read this post. We gathered four rituals for emotional release to help you let go of anything holding you back. You’re worthy of putting yourself first. Take care of your emotions because it’s the only way you can live a well-rounded, well-adjusted life.
Let’s get started.
1. Recognise Your Emotions
Self-awareness is one of the least recognised processes today. It could be because we’re so busy being connected to other people all the time. Having the Internet at your fingertips makes it easy to brush our feelings aside.
Yet, being aware of each emotion and how it affects our mental state is crucial. We need it to fully process what’s happening and be able to heal. This is where mindfulness comes in.
Mindful meditation is where you sit somewhere quiet and focus on your breathing. Learn how to accept the emotion, face it head-on with the realisation that it, too, will pass. Going through this intimate process helps you come face-to-face with your emotions.
2. Express Your Emotions
All types of emotions need to be expressed in one way or another. This is how our bodies release negative energy. It’s also how our minds process emotions and allow us to fully heal. Bear in mind that true healing happens when both the body and mind work in unison.
Ask yourself: what do you need to get all your emotions out authentically? Some people brainstorm ways to express their feelings, others just do what feels right at the moment. It depends on what you feel most comfortable with.
Here are a few ideas to get you started. Try each one and see which works best for you. Remember to focus on your emotion and visualise it floating away from your body.
- Go for a walk
- Do some journaling
- Hit a punching bag
- Dance
- Scream into a pillow
- Cry
- Paint
- Breathe deeply
3. Indulge in Some Much-Need Me-Time
Self-care is something else we tend to neglect and put on hold time and again. Both men and women are guilty of this, despite studies showing that most men are better at it than women.
Nevertheless, we all need to recalibrate. Learning how to put yourself first and taking care of your minds and bodies takes time.
Start with setting aside 10 minutes each day. For example, if you like to draw, then use that time to create some art. It doesn’t matter if you’re doodling or painting an entire canvas. The health benefits are the same.
Once you’ve mastered those 10 minutes, take it up a notch. Why not savour a full 30 minutes of me-time as you take a walk or enjoy a bubble bath?
To make self-care a priority, use these simple pleasures as a way of nourishing your soul. Soon, you’ll notice the benefits have trickled down to your mind and body for a happier, healthier you.
4. Celebrate
Whether this is your first time releasing your emotions or the one-hundredth time, it’s time to celebrate! Be proud of all the hard work you’ve done to get to where you are.
You took the time to process your emotions and release pent-up negativity. That’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s cathartic and opens you up to rich, fulfilling experiences for a healthy and productive life.
A.A. Milne said, “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think…” And you know the author of Winnie the Pooh is never wrong.
So, rejoice, jump for joy, and appreciate all that life has to offer! And remember, you’re worth way more than you think!
