Your Emotions Are Messages: Learning to Listen Again

We often judge our emotions—anger, fear, sadness—as problems to suppress or fix. But these feelings aren’t enemies. They are messengers. They carry guidance about what needs healing, safety, or change inside us.

At Awaken Your Life Coaching, I believe that emotional healing begins when we shift from “How do I get rid of this feeling?” to “What is this feeling trying to tell me?”

Why We Ignore Emotions?

For many women, especially those who’ve weathered trauma, emotional expression felt unsafe. So we learned to numb, to override, or to dismiss. We told ourselves—“I shouldn’t feel this,” or “I’m being too much.” But those reactions came from protective parts of us, trying to keep us safe.

Listening as a Healing Practice

When you slow down and listen nonjudgmentally, you open a space for your inner world to speak:

Sadness may say, “Something precious was lost, and I need to mourn.”

Fear may say, “I feel unsafe. I need boundaries or rest.”

Anger may say, “Something was violated. I deserve protection.”

These messages help you understand your needs, not shame or silence them.

Steps to Begin Listening

Pause. Drop into your body. Take a few breaths.

Ask: What am I feeling? Name it, even vaguely.

Ask: Where do I feel it? Notice tightness, heaviness, tension.

Ask: What does it need right now? Safety, boundaries, release, expression…

Respond gently. Acknowledge, soothe, or set small boundaries.

You won’t transform overnight. Emotions are not instant puzzles. But with consistent, compassionate listening—they begin to soften. You begin to heal.

Your emotions are not broken—they are guiding you back to yourself.

With care,

Terry De Aragon, RN, BSN

Trauma-Informed Holistic Nurse Coach

Awaken, Heal, and Step into Your Freedom