The Quiet Power of Letting Yourself Feel

August 13th — Soft mornings teach me that even the heaviest feelings can be met with gentleness.

We are often taught that strength means controlling our emotions. That "holding it together" means closing the door to sadness, anger, or longing.

But the truth is, real strength often comes when we allow ourselves to feel it all.

I've noticed that the more I try to push away a feeling, the more it stays in my body.
Swallowed tears become a heavy stone in my chest.
Unspoken anger tightens my jaw and shoulders.
Unfelt longing turns into a cold silence inside.

In therapy, I've learned to meet my feelings not just in my mind, but in my body.
When a wave of emotion rises, I pause and notice: Where do I feel this? Is it a tightness in my throat? A weight pressing down on my shoulders? A warmth in my belly?
Sometimes it feels like constriction, sometimes like release, sometimes it surprises me entirely.
By naming what I feel in my body, I'm not just "thinking" about my emotions, I'm allowing them to live and move through me.

And yet, when I give myself permission to feel — fully, honestly, without a time limit — something soft happens. The tears dry in their own time. My breath deepens. A small space opens in my chest, just big enough for lighter things to enter.

Your emotions are not enemies. They are messengers. They knock on the door, asking to be heard, and once they've been welcomed, they often leave quietly on their own.

If you are carrying something heavy today, give it a moment. Sit down, close your eyes, breathe deeply. Listen to it like you would an old friend who has come to tell you what your heart needs to hear.

You are not weak for feeling. You are strong for letting yourself feel.

And remember, you have permission to feel. All of it.
The anger, the disappointment, the bitterness.
The grief, the joy, the worry, the relief.
Everything between earth and sky. 

If these words reached you today, maybe it's because you were meant to read them.
I'd love to hear, how do you allow yourself to feel? Share your thoughts or your own gentle practices in the comments below.

And if you'd like more soft reflections and slow moments, I'd love to have you over on Instagram @selflavie. 🌿  

Soft hugs,
Selflavie