Day 47 of 100 Days of Hope
The Power of Feeling: Why Embracing Your Emotions Brings You Back to Life
As I was on my hike today, I brushed my hand against some wild sage. Its soft leaves felt velvety, and its scent wrapped around me like calm. In that quiet moment, I was reminded of something profound—how good it feels to feel.
The Beauty of Feeling It All
For much of my life, I believed feelings—especially the uncomfortable ones—were something to manage or push away. I thought sadness, anger, and disappointment were signs of weakness or failure. So, I learned to numb.
Everything felt “fine.” Even. Predictable. But also... flat.
Numbing is a coping mechanism—it helps us get through difficult moments. But it’s not meant to be a permanent home. Living without feeling is like seeing the world in black and white when color is available.
Why Feeling Matters
As a life coach for women in midlife, I often see how many of us have learned to disconnect from our feelings. We’ve spent years taking care of others—children, partners, parents—until one day we look up and realize we’ve forgotten how to take care of our own hearts.
But here’s the truth: feeling is not weakness—it’s wisdom.
Your emotions are guideposts pointing you toward your truth.
They tell you when something is aligned with your soul and when it’s not.
When you allow yourself to feel, you open the doorway to intuition, creativity, and connection. You begin to trust your inner compass again.
Touch as a Gateway to Feeling
If feeling your emotions feels overwhelming, start small—with touch.
Find a soft blanket and wrap yourself in it. Put on your favorite cozy sweater. Feel the texture of your skin as you apply lotion. Pet your dog or cat. Run your fingers over a flower petal or a smooth stone.
When you use touch intentionally, you awaken the senses that help you reconnect to your body. And once you’re back in your body, your heart follows.
Questions to Guide You Back to Yourself
Take a moment today and reflect on these:
What feelings are trying to come through right now?
Where might you be distracting or numbing yourself—and why?
Would you be willing to feel more deeply into life?
How could your feelings guide you toward what you truly desire?
These questions are not meant to judge, but to invite. Feeling deeply doesn’t mean being stuck in emotion—it means being fully alive to every part of your human experience.
Gratitude for the Gift of Feeling
I’ve learned to see feelings as gifts, not burdens. They make life rich and meaningful. They connect us to others, to God, and to ourselves.
When we honor our feelings instead of fearing them, we open ourselves to new choices, new possibilities, and new life.
So today, take a breath, slow down, and feel the world around you. Feel the warmth of the sun, the softness of sage, or the rhythm of your own heartbeat.
That’s where life begins—right there in the moment you choose to feel.
Here is a short video to support your journey!
Much love,
Julie Burningham
The Hope Coach, Shine Bright Life Coaching