Have you ever wondered why we have emotions?

Have you ever wondered why we have emotions? For so many people, our emotional landscape intimidates us. We fear the pain of our emotions and often navigate our lives in an effort to avoid our emotions. We prioritize our thoughts, oftentimes feeling like prisoners of our own minds. We behave in ways that mystify us, going against what we want in our lives and our relationships. Most of our lives' discordance stems from avoiding our emotional reality. 

Neuroscience informs us that emotions last for 90 seconds. Yet, our reaction to emotions can lead us to continually feel emotional pain for days, weeks, and even years. Consider resentment or guilt… these emotions can feel as if they persist for decades! Learning how to feel our emotions and allow them to pass can be life-changing.

Importantly, emotions carry valuable information. Anger can tell us to stop, move away, or change course. Sadness can tell us that we love, that we care, or that we need connection. Guilt can tell us where we have not been in integrity with ourselves or it can tell us where we need to forgive. Resentment can tell us that we have abandoned ourselves in a relationship. We need this information to guide us towards healthy and fulfilled lives.

Make it a practice to feel your emotions and listen to their messages. The more you feel, the less intimidating or scary it will seem.