Releasing Negativity for a Peaceful, Joyful Life
I want to talk about something we all experience: negative emotions that can weigh us down. I don’t know about you, but when these emotions arise in my life, they can completely drain me.
Let’s talk about four common negative emotions:
Stress – You’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed by a challenge.
Frustration – You’re disappointed or angry because something isn’t going as planned.
Avoidance – You’re procrastinating or avoiding a task or conversation, leaving you feeling heavy.
Closedness – You’re walled off, maybe toward someone or something, and it leaves you feeling “less than” or guarded.
These emotions can leave us feeling tense, both in our minds and bodies. We all want things to go smoothly, but when they don’t, we often tighten up and lose that sense of ease. It’s important to remember that feeling this way doesn’t make you wrong or bad—this is part of being human. But letting these emotions go unchecked can pull us away from living with an open heart, full of joy and peace.
So how do we work through these emotions? Here’s what’s been helping me:
Notice the tightness – Start by becoming aware of any tightness in your body. It’s a signal that you’re holding on to something, whether it’s stress, frustration, or avoidance.
Pause and observe – Once you’re aware of the tension, pause. Take a moment to notice what thoughts or feelings are bubbling up. You don’t have to fix them right away—just acknowledge them.
Bring kindness to yourself – Recognize that these feelings are a natural part of life. It’s okay to feel insecure or vulnerable. Show kindness toward yourself for feeling this way.
Breathe and release – Take a deep breath and see if you can relax the tightness in your body. Even if it doesn’t go away completely, softening around it is a step forward.
Move forward – Now, ask yourself what step you feel called to take. It could be a small action or just a shift in perspective, but any step toward growth is progress.
Every day is a new chance to work through stress, frustration, avoidance, or closedness. These steps aren’t about perfection—they’re about learning to live with more peace and less tension. One day at a time, one breath at a time, you’ll find your way to a more open, joyful life.
