Healthy Expression of Our Emotions

by Kaleb Montgomery, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Here is a different perspective on why it is healthier to express our emotions. Emotions are energy. For us to experience an emotion our brain has to be aware of it. For our brain to be aware of it a reaction has to take place. To feel anything a pulse of bioelectricity travels from one nerve in your brain to another nerve in your brain. This explanation is straight out of a physiology text.

This energy is called different names in the East, Qi or Prana. This energy is life. It is the difference between a hunk of meat and a living thing. With out it, death. This energy courses through our whole body. In western terms it is the energy created in the mitichondrion in each cell. Every cell in our body needs this energy to survive. If this energy is reduced or blocked than our cells cannot function properly. Literally it is the gas that keeps our motor running. Less gas, less mileage. Emotions are another name for this same energy. Biologically it is the same thing. It is still bioelectic pulses and chemical reactions.

Therefore our emotions are another expression of our Qi, Prana, constitution energy and life force. If we stop the flow of emotions through our body we are reducing our life force. We are preventing fuel from reaching the cellular engine. The energy wants to go there, but we stop it. Not only do we prevent the energy flow, we make an effort to do it. We use energy to stop energy from reaching our cells. Our life force is doubly diminished, a very conterproductive habit. To fully harness our full potential we need to learn to change this habit.

The change starts subtly. The first step is awareness. We must know what is happening to us. Easier said than done. The process of pushing down and repressing our emotions is deeply ingrained. Start the next time you feel an emotion. Could be any emotion; anger, fear, joy, sadness or whatever. Our first reaction usually is to push away the sadness. Our internal dialog is "I shouldn't feel sad, the Maple Leafs played hard, they will only be better for the experience next year." We force away the sadness. Instead feel sad. Watch it. Is your chest tight? Is your beathing shallow, deep, fast or slow. Say "It's only natural that I'm sad, the Leafs are my soul." Go home and cry away the evening. Maybe your can't cry or do not feel like you have to. Does not matter. You do not have to cry to express sadness. Talk about it. When people ask you how you are, tell them you are sad. Write it in your journal. Talk to your pet rat. I guarantee that you will feel better, lighter and more in control. You might still feel sad, but the edge is gone. You can handle it now. Practise as much as you can. Pick something and try it out. Picture the situation in your head and observe what you feel. Practise makes perfect. It takes a long time to break our usual patterns. The rewards however, are tremendous. Unleash the potential energy beast within.