Embodying Emotions vs. Observing Emotions

When we embody our emotions, we get stuck inside the story of the event.

• With anger, we keep replaying what was said or done, fuelling the same reaction again and again.

• With sadness, we stay locked on what we lost or how things “should have been.”

• With anxiety, our thoughts jump ahead, imagining everything that could possibly go wrong.

In those moments, we’re no longer just experiencing an emotion — we’re living inside it, and it runs the show.

But when we observe our emotions, we create a bit of distance.

• With anger, we can notice, “I’m angry right now,” without acting on it.

• With sadness, we can recognise, “This hurts,” without letting it define our entire day.

• With anxiety, we can see the “what if” thoughts without automatically believing them.

Observing doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives us space to choose a response instead of being controlled by the reaction.

 Next time you face a challenge, ask yourself: “Am I embodying this emotion, or am I observing it?”

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