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You Are Not Your Emotion

How to feel emotions without identifying with them


Emotions are part of being human – they come and go, often like waves. But too often, we confuse our feelings with who we are:


“I am sad.”

“I am angry.”

“I am afraid.”


But that’s not quite true. You are not sad – you feel sadness. And that makes a big difference.

What does science say?

Modern neuroscience confirms what many ancient traditions have known for centuries: Emotions are temporary.

Studies – including those by neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor – show that the biological reaction to an emotional trigger (such as a surge of stress hormones, tightness in the chest, tears, or heat in the body) lasts only about 90 seconds. After that, it fades – if we allow it to.


What keeps emotions alive longer and makes them stronger are our thoughts. When we begin to judge, analyze, or tell ourselves stories like “Why do I feel this?”, “This shouldn’t be happening,” or “This is unfair,” we’re feeding the emotion – and it stays.


So what can you do when a strong emotion arises?

The first step is: Recognize that you are not the emotion. You are experiencing an emotion. It’s a visitor – not a permanent state.

A mindful approach might look like this:


Pause. Notice that a feeling is arising. Name it: “There is sadness.” Or: “I feel anger.”


Sit with the feeling. Say to it silently:“You’re welcome here. Let’s sit together for a few minutes. ”You don’t have to fix it or make it go away. You’re allowed to feel it.


Feel it in your body. Where does it show up? Is there tightness, heat, pressure? No need to judge – just notice.


Breathe. Inhale deeply through your nose. Exhale slowly. Let your attention rest gently on your breath – it’s your anchor. With every exhale, a little more tension can release.


Trust that the emotion will pass. If you don’t feed it, it won’t stay. And if it’s very intense, it may take more than one round – and that’s okay.


Feelings want to be felt.

Emotions are like waves – they come, rise, and pass. Our task is not to control or suppress them, but to give them space. Often, just acknowledging and feeling a sensation is enough for it to begin to release.

The more we practice this, the more inner freedom we gain.We’re no longer swept away by emotions – we learn to move through them with awareness.


You are not your sadness. Not your anger. Not your fear.You are the awareness that can feel it all – and let it go.


And that’s exactly where I support people: With mindful coaching, yoga, energy work, or sound, I offer a safe space for emotions to be felt, released, and integrated – so you can reconnect with yourself. You don’t have to go through it alone.


💬 Feel free to reach out – in a free and non-binding conversation, we can explore whether I’m the right guide for you and which approach I’d recommend for your current situation.

 
 
 

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