EP 70: How Breathwork Can Clear Emotional Blocks
Welcome back to Breathe More! Today, I want to dive into a topic that’s incredibly important yet often overlooked: our emotions. So, let me start with a simple question: How are you feeling at this moment? Take a moment to pause and truly check in with yourself. Are you feeling joyful, anxious, or perhaps a bit of dread? Whatever it is, acknowledging that feeling is the first step toward understanding its roots.
Understanding Your Emotions
Often, we brush aside our feelings or try to ignore them altogether. I’ve worked with many clients who come to me with vague feelings of unease or dread, not knowing why they feel this way. It’s crucial to remember that our emotions are powerful signals trying to convey important messages. They can offer insights into our past experiences, our current situation, and even our unmet needs.
For instance, recently, one of my clients expressed a persistent feeling of dread. As we began to explore this feeling together, we uncovered that it was linked to unresolved past trauma. This emotional baggage can create a loop in our minds, making it difficult to break free and move forward. When we don’t take the time to explore our emotions, they can manifest in ways that hinder our progress and growth.
The Importance of Creating Space
Creating space to feel our emotions is essential. Life often pulls us in many directions, making it easy to overlook what’s happening inside us. Many of us grow up in environments where expressing emotions was discouraged. I can relate personally; my upbringing taught me to be quiet and to suppress my feelings. I was conditioned to think that expressing anger or sadness was wrong. However, suppressing emotions doesn’t make them go away; instead, it often leads to bigger reactions later on.
As you reflect on your own experiences, consider how you were taught to handle emotions. Did you have the freedom to express yourself? Did your caregivers model healthy emotional processing? If you, like many others, grew up in a context where emotional expression was stifled, this realization can be the first step toward healing.
Listening to Your Emotions
So, how do we start listening to our emotions? It begins with mindfulness. When you feel a strong emotion, take a moment to pause. What is this feeling trying to tell you? Try to identify where it resides in your body. Is it in your chest, your stomach, or somewhere else? Engaging with your body in this way allows you to connect with your feelings on a deeper level.
Breathwork is one of the most effective tools I use with my clients to create that pause. By consciously connecting with our breath, we can calm our nervous systems and gain clarity about our feelings. As you breathe, take a moment to ask your emotions what they need. What are they afraid of? What do they want to protect you from? Often, we find that our emotions are deeply intertwined with our past, offering us insights we might not have previously acknowledged.
Reparenting Your Emotions
Another essential aspect of this work is reparenting. Many of us carry a younger version of ourselves who might feel afraid, unsafe, or unloved. As the current, more mature version of you, it’s crucial to validate those feelings. Engage in a dialogue with your younger self. What reassurance can you offer them? What new perspective can you provide? This reparenting process is transformative and allows you to embrace all parts of yourself, fostering a sense of safety and self-trust.
For instance, one of my clients in the Dream Bigger Mastermind faced anxiety about her future after being laid off. Through our work together, she discovered that an inner promise she made to herself as a teenager was still impacting her decisions today. This realization empowered her to shift her perspective, enabling her to fully enjoy her time off without the guilt of needing to be constantly productive.
Moving Forward with Empowerment
As you navigate your emotions, remember that they are not your enemy. They are valuable sources of information, urging you to slow down and reflect. When you create time in your day to process these feelings, you open the door to healing and growth. You’ll find yourself becoming more present and less entangled in the worries of the future.
Let’s try a brief exercise together. If you’re able, close your eyes and connect with your breath. Take a deep inhale and exhale. As you breathe, think about your current emotions. Where do you feel them in your body? What message do they carry? Acknowledge these feelings without judgment.
As you continue to breathe, thank those emotions for the information they provide. Then, as your current self, offer reassurance to your younger self. Remind them that it’s okay to feel, that they are safe now, and that you have the tools to navigate life’s challenges.
Remember, this work is ongoing. As you encounter strong emotions, don’t shy away from them. Instead, create a ritual of pause, breathe, and connect. This practice will not only help you process your feelings but will also cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself.
If you’re looking for support on this journey, I’d love to connect. I’m currently accepting one-on-one clients and would be honored to walk alongside you as you navigate your healing and empowerment journey.
Thank you for joining me today on this exploration of emotions. I hope this resonates with you. Please feel free to reach out and share your experiences. I always love hearing from you. Until next time, take care and remember to breathe more.
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