Let me ask you an interesting question. Are you paying enough attention to your emotions? It’s a valid question…because too often, we seek to numb ourselves in order to function in an increasingly demanding world.
Think about the last time you heard someone call another person “emotional”. It probably wasn’t a compliment.
In the movies or on television, feelings are often romanticized and played heavily upon to drive the plotline, but only until the climax – when things can return to normal.
In reality, we’re encouraged to brush off emotions as unreasonable distractions in a world of pragmatic priorities.
Unfortunately, it’s women who suffer the most from this sanitized approach.
The latest scientific research shows that our emotions and even our past traumas and fears play a defining role in our health – because the mind can and does influence our physical health, including our immune system and our capacity for healing.
When we talk about self-care and managing emotions, it’s easy to brush off the topic as just an indulgence, like taking more bubble baths or treating yourself to a latte.
However, women today are perhaps more prone to serious illness and burnout than ever before, and our unwillingness to prioritize our own wellbeing is a major reason why.
When we hear things like “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and “put yourself first”, we nod and smile…and then we go back to our overlong to-do list, say yes to the next six requests that come our way, and end up volunteering at the PTA meeting–again.
While chronic illness, mood disorders, and adrenal fatigue are all on the rise in society, few people are looking at the roots of WHY these issues are becoming so commonplace.
Compared to all the riches in the world, our health is our most precious source of abundance – and yet our physical vitality really does start with our emotions.
It doesn’t matter how much kale salad you eat – if you’re eating it out of fear or duty and hating every bite, those nutrients won’t have anywhere near the effect you’re looking for.
We’ve all heard stories of that one relative who clung to every bad habit under the sun, and still lived to a ripe old age. Chances are, this person was very well-connected in his or her community, and had a strong sense that his or her life had meaning, value, and purpose.
In short, one’s emotions determine a great deal more about our overall health than most people are willing to recognize!
Feelings may pass, but that does not mean they’re trivial or worthless! Indeed, our feelings can be invaluable guides for our wellbeing if we take a moment to listen to them when they demand action
However, it’s not always easy to identify what we really feel, let alone to listen to and honour those emotions in practical ways.
We can all use some guidance on how to integrate our emotional being into our physical body!
That’s why I love using essential oils and aromatherapy as a way to help process our emotions.
Every scent we inhale is processed through our brain’s olfactory system, which is connected to the limbic system–an area of the brain where our memories and emotions are stored. The limbic system then produces a distinct emotional response based on memories that are associated with that particular smell.
It’s true that different people can have varying emotional responses to the same events or interactions–however, science has shown that everyone is able to experience a distinct emotional response to certain types of scents.
This means that modern aromatherapy is based on a solid foundation of chemistry – and we can easily tap into that power by using essential oils!
Ideally, we should be able to feel our feelings, acknowledge the wisdom they offer in that moment, and then allow them to pass from our experience.
If we consistently repress our emotions or ignore what they’re trying to tell us, they can “get stuck” in our physical body and manifest as all sorts of things – from a passing stomach ache to serious, chronic illness.
I predict that in the future, addressing our emotions will be the underpinning of all medical care – because aside from acute physical trauma, there’s likely an emotional side to every illness (even if you’re not consciously aware of it).
So now that you recognize how important it is to acknowledge your emotions, you might be wondering, how do I do that?
Introducing…the VibeUp Challenge!
I’m so excited to share a brand new course I’ve created for you called The VibeUp Challenge! It’s the first of many courses I’ll be rolling out this year through The NEW Transformational Essentials eLearning Academy.
In VibeUp, you’ll be able to embark on a self-paced journey of 7+ days with me through a wide range of emotions, and learn how to address them using dōTERRA’s emotional aromatherapy essential oil collection!
We’ll begin with the emotions of shame and guilt, and work our way through fear, anger, forgiveness, and finally, peace. Each morning, we will reflect on a particular emotional state, how it may show up in our lives, and how to listen to and acknowledge its message for us.
Then we’ll discuss some solutions and alternative approaches for these scenarios, and we’ll explain which oils can be helpful in dispelling these emotions, and why.
You’ll walk away with a 7-day essential oil protocol that you can play with and personalize, and you’ll begin shifting your emotional state with transformative results.
I’d love to have you join me in stepping more fully into honouring your emotions.
It’s truly the foundation of self-care.
Go check out the VibeUp course here.
P.S. If you haven’t already downloaded my FREE audio course on the Essentials of Emotional Vitality, I recommend you check that out first.
It’s an excellent program, and a bit of a teaser for the full-on experience of the VibeUp Challenge!
xoxo
~ Dr. Marissa
