What do we mean by the word emotion?
Is having negative emotions, bad?
Does experiencing negative emotions makes us weak?
Can negative emotions control us?
Do negative emotions serve a purpose?
What is the positive side of experiencing negative emotions?
If you – or someone in your network – is experiencing overwhelming negative emotions and feeling helpless, this article could be a much needed breath of fresh air. Read on!
Have you ever noticed any similarity between the word “emotion” and the word “motion”?
Do pause for a moment, and consider the above question before you resume reading, please.
The word motion implies – along some other interpretations – some external bodily movements indicating some kind of excitement or action/reaction (part of physical self-expression through participation/involvement) experienced and expressed relatively different from one person to another.
Can you think of an example?
Shouting, screaming, ushering with hands, kicking things, jumping, talking with agitation, crying, trembling, sweating, change of body temperature …etc.
How do emotions link to that?
e-motion = energy in motion, but on the inside; within our physical bodies. Yes, energy that needs ways of expression. But then … what generates such energy within our bodies?
Try to think of an answer before carrying on. It is an eye opener!
Thoughts. Whatever thought we think, creates correspondent energy within our bodies; and that energy needs expression or release. And that applies to both types of e-motions; positive and negative equally. When we do not express our e-motions, we become bloated and that creates blockages in our bodies leading to discomfort and illnesses.
Hence arises the question of how do we deal with our e-motions? The negative ones specifically? How do we express or release them?
Let us work on some practical exercises. Get a pen and paper and then read the following steps noting down your findings. You can work with someone you trust and feel safe with (a partner, a friend… etc.) or you can work perfectly well on your own.
- List as many as you know of the negative e-motions you experienced.
- Pick one prominent e-motion.
Now – take a deep slow breath – and go within yourself:
- Trace back its origin. Where was it originated? How? What thought was associated with it?
- Did you feel it in a specific part/organ in your body?
- How did it feel?
- Did you feel an urge to act upon it?
- Were you struggling with containing it?
Now – take another breath and exhaling with a blow – as you step outwardly, reflecting on your actions back then:
- Can you describe your chosen behavior or expression of this specific e-motion?
- Were you fine with expressing it the way it was released?
You will go in again, observing inside yourself:
- Did you have second thoughts? Judgement about your behavior back then?
- How did that make you feel?
- What kind of energies are associated with that thinking?
- … etc.
And so on and so forth, we keep observing and analyzing objectively and free of judgement to be able to understand and know what is going on inside ourselves and how it is expressed outwardly shaping – literally – our reality.
Experiencing all types of e-motions is innate nature of human beings. It is how we get to learn about our “self”, understand our triggers and limitations, and choose how we wish to grow in awareness.
Sometimes we have the upper hand, and some other times we could be driven. Poor sleep, poor diet, continuous stress, not healing from our early traumas, tiredness, and many other factors impact our composure and level of awareness. But there is always a chance for a healthy rebound, and it is usually stronger and wiser.
To recap:
- To an extent and within the appropriate context, negative emotions such as: fear, anger, grief, sadness or jealousy are perfectly normal.
- The more we know our e-motions, the better our understanding of our motives and behaviors and the faster and steadier the recovery.
- Not dealing with negative e-motions can stop us enjoying life.
- Developing self-awareness techniques can help to curb persistent negative feelings.
Author,
Dounia Marei
