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Hello, I am Ilaria, your guide to holistic transformation and integral well-being.

Today I would like to talk to you about a very intimate and sensitive topic: emotions. We live in a society that often encourages us to suppress or ignore our feelings, to keep ourselves strong, composed, in control. However, as an advocate of emotional well-being and personal growth, I invite you to consider emotions as valuable allies in your journey towards self-understanding.

Emotions, in all their forms, are valuable allies in your journey of self-discovery. They are the voice of our soul, the language of our body, providing us with valuable insights into our inner reality.

Experts agree. According to Dr Susan David, psychologist at Harvard Medical School and author of the book ‘Emotional Agility’, emotions “are data, not directives”. This statement supports my belief: emotions are messages from our inner selves, valuable signals that can help us understand ourselves better.

Research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology has shown that people who accept their emotions without judgement have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, highlighting once again the importance of developing a healthy relationship with one’s feelings.

For example, when we feel joy, it signals that we are in harmony with ourselves. When we feel sadness, it signals that perhaps there is something in our lives that needs attention and care. When we feel anger, it is a signal that perhaps our limits have been violated. And when we feel fear, it suggests that we are facing the unknown, the new.

In my practice, I use techniques such as Movement Medicine and Focusing to help women become more aware of their emotions. These tools help us create a safe space within ourselves where we can feel, welcome and honour all our emotions. When we learn to make space for our emotions, to observe them without judgment, to welcome them with care and compassion, we can begin to see changes.

We discover that we can feel sadness without being broken, that we can feel anger without losing control, that we can feel fear without being weak.

Each emotion becomes a step in our journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Each emotion brings us a little closer to ourselves, to our authenticity, to our holistic well-being.

My invitation to you is this: the next time you are confronted with a strong emotion, take a moment to listen. What is it trying to tell you? Is there something you can learn from this experience? Remember, every emotion is a step in your journey of growth.

If you like, please share your experiences and emotions in the comments; make your contribution in creating together a community of support and sharing.

And if you feel ready to embark on this journey of emotional discovery, do not hesitate to contact me. It will be an honour to accompany you on this journey.

A big hug,
Ilaria

References:

• Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life, Susan David, 2016, Avery Publishing Group
• The Psychological Health Benefits of Accepting Negative Emotions and Thoughts: Laboratory, Diary, and Longitudinal Evidence Brett Q. Ford University of Toronto Phoebe Lam, Oliver P. John, and Iris B. Mauss University of California, Berkeley https://eerlab.berkeley.edu/pdf/papers/Ford_etal_inpress_Acceptance2.pdf

#emotions #wellbeing #authenticity #movefeelheal #movementmedicine #focusing