Power + Sensitivity

You can be both sensitive and powerful. 

The word “sensitive” can have a negative connotation- it’s often associated with being weak. 

“You’re too sensitive” was a phrase I heard from others throughout my life- others who couldn’t accept and appreciate my sensitivity in the way I needed. Instead, it was often used as an insult when I was upset, and when someone didn’t want to admit they were wrong. 

At the same time, I sometimes felt like my sensitivity was a curse. Like my body and soul were not made for this world that could often feel harsh and cruel. 

So I avoided, I hid, I stayed small, because it was easier that way. 

After releasing deep layers of anger that I had suppressed for my entire life in an emotional release session, I felt a power- a life force energy- flood my body. 

I felt my power and strength for the first time in my life.

And I realized that the combination of both sensitivity and power- healthy use of power- is one of the most potent combinations for healing the world. 

Pic: @timdajan @emotionalreleases

Knowledge Vs Embodiment

What’s the difference between knowledge and embodiment?

Knowledge is the mental learning, repeating, awareness. 

Embodiment is actually living what you learned on a daily basis. 

When I first dove into emotional healing, it was all about gaining as much knowledge as I could. I listened to all the podcasts. Read all the books.

But after time I realized that I wasn’t actually living this knowledge.

I could talk all about boundaries and the importance of setting them, but when it came to setting a boundary I would freeze and avoid.

I could talk all about the nervous system responses, but I was still having extreme experiences of nervous system dysfunction.

I could talk all about taking your power back, but I was still giving my power away on a daily basis, with even small things.

I could talk all about the importance of feeling your feelings, but I was still terrified of feeling mine on deep levels.

It wasn’t until I started doing somatic work that I realized: I had all the mental stuff down, but I was totally disconnected from my body.

And being connected to my body is how I can embody and live this knowledge.

Through body- based modalities such as somatic coaching, emotional release, and breathwork, I created more safety to be in my body, which led to feeling more connected to myself, which led to actually integrating all of the knowledge and living it.

Knowledge is power. Awareness is power. And embodiment creates even deeper levels of empowerment.

How Do We “Let Go?”

We live in a society where we are taught to let go, move on, start new. Forgive.

People say “Let it go”, as if we should just visualize whatever we want to let go of drifting away, out of our bodies and our minds. Sometimes this is all we need. But sometimes it doesn’t work. And let’s normalize that.

While yes- it’s unhealthy to hold onto these states and emotions for long periods of time, it’s also unhealthy to shove down and ignore the emotions coming up around the situation.

Sometimes letting go is a process, not a decision.

Our body holds onto trauma. “Trauma” could be one time in our childhood when we were yelled at, or witnessed something we couldn’t process, or felt left out or embarrassed. It’s not always a major event.

During these moments, our body created a way to stay safe, because our bodies didn’t have the capacity to process what was going on. Sometimes we may have created coping mechanisms as a way to stay safe- people pleasing, avoidance, overworking, etc. We may have learned to suppress emotions.

We can “let go” in our minds, but if we haven’t processed the emotions and integrated the parts of us still stuck in survival strategies, we are still going to feel lingering emotions in our body around the situations that are keeping us stuck. This can lead to passive-aggressive behavior, resentment, and avoidance. And stuck emotions can also cause physical symptoms.

Letting go is a process. A process of awareness- of becoming aware of the parts of us that are creating resistance because letting go doesn’t feel safe. A process of establishing more safety in the body so we can let go of deeper layers. A process of fully feeling the emotions that come up. A process of allowing our bodies to release at the pace and timing that is best- knowing that this process is determined by the timeline in our body- not only our mind.