There is a song that has always gone deep and had a profound impact on me, mostly bringing up sadness and grief when I listened to it. I always felt lighter afterward—I liked that. Today, I listened to it again. It popped up on my YouTube unexpectedly, but this time, it brought up tremendous joy and love in my body. I was doing my cardio after working out—usually running, skipping rope, and finishing with some dance to wind down the energy.
Joy moved through my body so freely, no longer stopped by numbness or shame, as it usually is to some degree. The emotion moved my body effortlessly. I felt so empowered and free in my expression.
How do I know that my emotional repression reversal process is working? It’s experiential, as the example above shows. I see the changes in my body, life, and relationships: Less tension in my chest and belly when I feel joyous. Less numbness in my head. I feel safe maintaining eye contact. Fewer feelings of shame, unworthiness, and inadequacy when expressing joy and affection to others.
More creativity and spontaneity, and noticeably less muscular tension. Definitely less attention on others and what they think of my expression. Vulnerability and opening up to others don’t scare me that much anymore.
How does it feel when joy and love arise in your experience? Can they flow freely, or do other feelings and symptoms show up in your body?
How does your body react when you say, “I can express my joy and love freely in front of others”? Is there any tension, resistance, or anxiety? Does it feel okay, or does something push back? What does that tension mean about you?
What’s the worst—and best—that could happen if you expressed it to them? To your partner, loved one, friend, or someone important to you.
Listen to your body closely, with curiosity and gentleness. As if it’s the first time you’re feeling that response, that sensation, place your hands around it. Can you love and trust that sensation enough to hear what it’s saying to you? If not, can you welcome and feel that ‘no’ response enough to let it speak to you?
How does it feel for you when you speak to the sensation and say,
‘Thank you for arising, I love you’?
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I wish you a day filled with calm and connection. While many call it Valentine’s Day, I see it as a day to celebrate joy, love, and meaningful connections—with ourselves and those closest to us. If you’d like to discover how truly embodied joy and love feel in your body, the first step is to book a free meet-and-greet call, so we can get to know each other.
Warmly,
Serena
What you find inside transforms everything outside! 🌀
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