Feeling our feelings

Feelings.

If you follow me on Instagram (@innerlightbotanicals), you'll notice a recurring theme about feeling our feelings.

Some of you have reached out to me recently to let me know that you realized that you actually have a hard time feeling your feelings. And guess what? You're not alone. 

I want to let you know that it's okay to feel things. You have permission to feel whatever it is you are feeling right now. And if it's a bunch of different things at once- that's okay too.

We numb ourselves. We bury our feelings. We build a wall around our hearts. We live in our analytical minds.

We put so much effort into trying not to feel. Because we don't like pain. We don't want to influence the emotions of others. We don't want to be perceived as anything other than happy. We want to be tough and strong. 

So we go about our lives, 
disconnected from our bodies.
making decisions from our heads instead of our hearts. 
unhealed.

But feeling is so important. It allows us to connect with others at the deepest of levels even when we can't understand what we see on the outside. Because we can all connect with sadness. anger. excitement. joy. confusion. worry. hurt. It's part of the human experience and it makes us human. That means we all feel them. And we can heal and have more fulfilling lives feeling them and knowing that it's okay to feel them.


Some of my favorite feelings quotes I've recently crossed paths with: 

• "letting yourself feel things might also mean allowing and accepting the guilt and shame you feel for feeling that thing." - Aysha Natsheh
• "you are an amazing & emotional person who feels feelings. this can be annoying sometimes but it's also your secret power. keep being human." - Adam J. Kurtz
• "to anyone who might be struggling remember you are allowed to feel more than one thing at the same time. sometimes joy and pain exist simultaneously." - Jess Bird

My Daily Life Practice: I've noticed how music has the ability to expand the heart and you can listen to music as an inquiry into your own emotions. Notice what feelings arise when you listen to different songs or different types of music. What comes up for you? What emotions do you feel uneasy feeling? Practice feeling them and getting comfortable with them. And notice when you try to push them away.

~hugs!

Mandee

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Mandee Metzger is the Creator and Founder of Inner Light Botanicals. She has studied and practices Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness, Crystal Healing, Reiki, and Integrative Nutrition and is a huge advocate for mental health awareness and feeling your feelings. She believes in the power of a smile, positivity, and the healing journey. She also believes in the power of integrating self-care into our daily life in small moments. And she believes in the power of the energy we put out into this world to transform lives and our planet. Find her simple self-care practices and mindful lifestyle on her YouTube channel, Mindfulness with Mandee.