The Power of Letting Yourself Feel Your Feelings: Embracing Your Emotions Without Judgment12/16/2024
Author: Izzy Michels, Taproot Therapy Clinical Trainee
We all experience a range of emotions—joy, sadness, anger, anxiety, frustration, and many others. Sometimes, these emotions feel overwhelming, and we may try to push them aside or ignore them. Society often tells us to "stay positive," "move on," or "keep going," which can make us feel guilty or ashamed for feeling anything less than happy or in control. The truth is: Your emotions are valid. You don’t have to apologize for feeling what you feel. The key to emotional well-being is not in suppressing or avoiding feelings, but in allowing yourself to fully experience them, without judgment. When we let ourselves feel and simply be with our emotions, rather than fighting against them, we can create the space for healing and growth. Why It’s Important to Feel Your Feelings Emotions are a natural human response to life. They don’t happen by accident—they are signals, messages from within that reflect our thoughts, experiences, and needs. Often we’re taught to avoid or control our emotions, especially the uncomfortable ones. We may tell ourselves, “I shouldn’t feel this way,” or “I should be stronger,” or “I don’t have time to feel sad right now.” This kind of thinking doesn’t make our emotions disappear—it just buries them, often making them harder to deal with in the long run. When we avoid our feelings, they can build up and create emotional tension, anxiety, or even physical stress. On the other hand, when we allow ourselves to feel what we feel without judgment, we open ourselves up to self-acceptance and emotional clarity. Here’s why it’s so important to let yourself feel your feelings: 1. Emotions Are a Natural Part of Being Human As human beings, we are designed to feel. We have a wide range of emotions for a reason—they help us navigate the world, make decisions, and connect with others. Emotions like joy, sadness, anger, and fear are all part of the human experience, and each one serves a purpose. When you allow yourself to feel, you're simply honoring your humanity. Emotions are not right or wrong—they just are. Every emotion you feel has something to teach you, whether it’s about your needs, your values, or your boundaries. By embracing your emotions, you're embracing the richness of your own experience, and allowing yourself to be fully present in each moment. 2. Letting Yourself Feel Brings Clarity Often, when we feel a strong emotion—whether it’s anger, sadness, or anxiety—we might try to avoid it because it feels uncomfortable. But when we resist our emotions, they can become more confusing. We might not understand why we feel the way we do, or we might feel disconnected from ourselves. When you let yourself simply feel without judgment, you create clarity. You give yourself the space to fully experience what’s going on inside, which helps you understand where these feelings are coming from. Are you feeling sad because you’re grieving? Are you feeling frustrated because a boundary has been crossed? Are you feeling anxious because you’re facing uncertainty? When you allow your emotions to exist without judgment, you gain insight into your own needs and desires. You become more in tune with yourself, and that self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth. 3. Feeling Your Feelings Helps You Heal Emotions, especially difficult ones like grief, sadness, or anger, can be intense. But suppressing or ignoring these feelings doesn’t make them go away—it just leaves them unresolved. In fact, emotional suppression can sometimes manifest as physical tension, headaches, or fatigue. When you allow yourself to feel, you give yourself the opportunity to process these emotions. Feeling your feelings can be uncomfortable at times, but it is an essential part of healing. Just like a wound needs air to heal, your emotional wounds need space to breathe. By acknowledging and allowing yourself to feel your emotions, you give them the attention they deserve, which can help them dissipate over time. Remember, healing is a process, and it can only happen when you give yourself the permission to feel. 4. Letting Yourself Feel Encourages Self-Compassion We often treat ourselves harshly when we feel emotions we perceive as “negative.” For example, if you’re feeling sad or anxious, you might tell yourself, “I shouldn’t be feeling this way,” or “I should just get over it.” But this kind of self-criticism only deepens the emotional struggle. Instead of criticizing yourself for feeling, try offering yourself compassion. Understand that it’s okay to feel what you feel. In fact, it’s a sign of strength to allow yourself to be vulnerable and honest about your emotions. When you allow yourself to feel without judgment, you create a space for self-compassion to grow. You are telling yourself, “It’s okay to feel this way,” and “I am here for you, no matter what emotions arise.” This kind of compassionate acceptance allows you to release the emotional tension without carrying unnecessary guilt or shame. 5. Feeling Your Emotions Helps You Live in the Present Moment When we try to avoid our emotions, we can easily get caught up in mental loops. We might overanalyze, worry about the future, or ruminate on the past. But all of this distracts us from the present moment. Allowing yourself to feel your emotions brings you back into the here and now. You stop focusing on “what should be” or “what could have been,” and instead, you embrace what is. By fully experiencing your emotions in the present moment, you ground yourself in the reality of your experience. And when you’re grounded in the present, it becomes easier to navigate life with clarity, acceptance, and peace. How to Let Yourself Feel Your Feelings Here are a few simple tips for letting yourself feel your emotions without judgment:
So next time you’re feeling something—whether it’s joy, sadness, frustration, or anything else—remember that it’s okay to feel. You don’t need to explain it, hide it, or judge it. Just let yourself be with it, without guilt or shame. You are allowed to feel, and in feeling, you will find your way back to yourself. Author: Nora Carnevale, Taproot Therapy Clinical Trainee
Tapping is a simple technique that can help anyone find relief from common stressors. It is also effective with deeper issues such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of Tapping, and there is promising data to show its effectiveness, including one that determined Tapping to be an effective way to reduce anxiety in pre-surgical patients (Menevse & Yayla, 2024). Tapping is also commonly referred to as “Emotional Freedom Techniques.” Drawing on principles from ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology, tapping is partly based on the idea that meridian pathways, which are the pressure points used in acupuncture, improve energy flow and promote balance in the body. The places on the body that are frequently used are called EFT Tapping points and one uses their fingertips to gently tap them. The standard points that are used include the side of the hand, eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, under the mouth, collarbone, under the arm, and the top of the head. The second part of tapping involves focusing on current issues, including any negative feelings. Some people do this by verbalizing statements or focusing on replaying memories. The tapping exercise begins with the current negative feelings, then progresses into releasing and moving toward a more positive framing. When in the midst of a stressful moment, the amygdala can activate a flight or fight response even when there is no imminent danger present. Tapping is thought to send a signal to the brain that there is no real danger, and it helps to lower the stress response, promoting a feeling of safety by calming the nervous system. Consciously thinking about or speaking about what is distressing can also serve to disrupt chronic stress cycles and keep us focused in the present moment. Since many physical issues such as insufficient sleep or pain can be exacerbated by stress, tapping can ultimately lead to relief in these areas as well. The practice of tapping is based on cultivating a mind-body connection and promoting compassion toward ourselves, and anyone can try it! If you are interested, below is a guided tapping exercise along with example statements to get started:
Feel free to repeat the tapping sequence several times. With some practice, you can find out what might feel best and most effective for you. References Ortner, N. How does tapping work? All about EFT tapping. The Tapping Solution. https://www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/how-does-tapping-work/?lid=i9cdd3qps7mh The Tapping Solution. What Is EFT Tapping? Beginner's Guide to Emotional Freedom Technique. https://www.thetappingsolution.com/eft-tapping/#sequence Menevse, S, Aysegul, Y. (2024). Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique applied to patients before laparoscopic cholecystectomy on surgical fear and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2023.07.006 Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, impacting not only physical health but also emotional and mental well-being. For many, the journey to manage chronic pain can feel isolating and exhausting, as pain persists despite various treatments and medications. However, a growing body of research shows that therapy—especially approaches focusing on the mind-body connection—can provide meaningful relief for those suffering from chronic pain. Therapy for chronic pain offers an empowering path to address pain’s root causes and change how it is experienced, helping individuals regain control over their lives.
How Therapy Can Help with Chronic Pain Therapy for chronic pain involves much more than just “thinking away the pain.” It’s a specialized approach that includes understanding the pain cycle, addressing emotional responses, and retraining the brain to respond differently to pain signals. Chronic pain can stem from a variety of conditions, including migraines, fibromyalgia, back pain, and joint pain, often leading to feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and even depression. Pain-focused therapy equips individuals with tools to interrupt these cycles, reduce pain intensity, and increase daily functioning. Types of Therapy for Chronic Pain There are several therapy approaches that have shown promise for chronic pain relief. While each method has its unique techniques, most focus on the connection between the mind and body, teaching individuals how to influence their brain’s perception of pain.
Benefits of Therapy for Chronic Pain Engaging in therapy for chronic pain can bring about numerous benefits that extend beyond pain relief. Some key advantages include:
How to Get Started with Therapy for Chronic Pain Starting therapy for chronic pain typically begins with identifying an approach that resonates with you. It may involve individual therapy sessions focused on specific pain management strategies or joining a structured group where you can share experiences and learn skills alongside others who understand what you’re going through. For those who feel isolated in their journey, a supportive group setting can be a powerful way to foster connection and reduce the burden of chronic pain. Join Our 8-Week Chronic Pain Recovery Group Therapy If you’re looking for a structured, supportive way to address chronic pain, our 8-Week Chronic Pain Recovery Group Therapy could be an ideal next step. This group focuses on Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and offers participants tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, helping to alleviate pain at its source. Group Details:
Don’t let chronic pain control your life—discover the power of therapy to help you find relief and recovery. Sign up for Taproot Therapy's Chronic Pain Recovery Group Today! For more information, please email [email protected] |
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