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November 2009 
How do your emotions affect your body?
Posted on Oct 20th, 2008
by 
~Matthew
~Matthew
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 20, 2008:
Interesting question! I'd say, "completely". In fact, if emotions aren't affecting my body, then I'm probably denying the emotion. My task is to notice how my body is feeling, whenever I'm feeling a strong emotion. And I breathe into that area, and let the emotion pass through me completely. And let the emotion affect me completely.
If it's sadness, my body may convulse while tears stream down my cheeks.
If it's joy, my body feels light and like it opens up to the universe with a great freedom of self. <--hard to explain actually.
When I'm angry, I feel firmly planted on the ground. I feel powerful but with control. Anger is an expression of my boundaries.
Well, I suppose there are many other emotions that correlate to many other bodily feelings. But what I like about this question is that it points to a good way connect to the body. When I feel an emotion, it's a great opportunity to pay attention to my breath and sensations in my body.
If it's sadness, my body may convulse while tears stream down my cheeks.
If it's joy, my body feels light and like it opens up to the universe with a great freedom of self. <--hard to explain actually.
When I'm angry, I feel firmly planted on the ground. I feel powerful but with control. Anger is an expression of my boundaries.
Well, I suppose there are many other emotions that correlate to many other bodily feelings. But what I like about this question is that it points to a good way connect to the body. When I feel an emotion, it's a great opportunity to pay attention to my breath and sensations in my body.
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Ha! So true Matthew.
I ditto your words - all.
And for me, a Touch Healer (massuse), I feel the emotions in the other as well…. it took a long time to learn when my emotions were truly mine vs when emotions I felt were not mine, but were the others.
Have a happy day -M
pj
Thanks, PJ!
hi ~M!!
you said: “…if emotions aren't affecting my body, then I'm probably denying the emotion.” my comment to that is that i believe when we try to repress or ignore emotions, it affects our bodies even more (and not in a good way because it's usually unpleasant emotions we're trying to ignore). headaches, sore muscles, stomach aches, clenched jaws, restlessness, trouble sleeping… i think every emotion manifests itself physically, we just have to learn how to pay very close attention… meditation is great for this!
i like your answer. :)
Thanks Fenix! Great point. I agree.
Mathew, you said it all in one sentence:
I'd say, “completely”.
True Meenakshi. Not so many words are really needed. It's about accepting whatever arises. Complete acceptance. It's not easy for me to do, especially with tough emotions, but it accelerates growth. My body is a beacon that emotions pass through. And when I deny certain emotions, then I get those aches and pains that Fenix was talking about above. When I accept completely, I feel more whole (or complete) when the emotion has passed than I did before. I could swear that everything I need is always already right here. The hard part is accepting that.
Interesting comments here.
I was just talking to a new friend yesterday. Her name Joan Borysenko, and we were talking about how some very important emotional considerations, which often go unnoticed, reflect in the exchange of both are significant and casual relationships. This can be seen through whatever arises as a kind of conflict or in the need to offer support to another.
For instance, often times when we come forward encouraging another to expect acceptance and to not fear judgement from others when the heart is pure, perhaps one offering this support addresses a personal concern from within and so through affirming one also self-affirms the importance of giving and receiving, nurturing and being nurtured, expressing gratitude and receiving gratitude.
Similarly we secretly harbor the physical and mental dis-ease belonging to those we love along with their emotional-spiritual issues from this present life time and those historic and in the future as well, yet to be addressed. Apparently, we go a step beyond to notice these subtleties, while attending to and keeping those important relationships 'healthy.'
I think that the link between our minds and our bodies is unseverable. Our minds control our bodies and vice versa. If your body is ill then your mind is discombobulated. If your mind is ailing it affects your body, such as in depression. It has been proven that when we are stressed it weakens our immune system. So to strengthen our minds is to strengthen our bodies.
I also think that beyond stress, we are affected by the vibes of others around us. Just like peggy said sometimes she couldn't differentiate between her feelings and those of her clients, some people are more sensitive to others emotions which conversely affect their own. So its important who we surround ourselves with, and what kind of energies we fill our lives with.