Posted on by Pinkii Bakshi

Embracing Emotions: The Heart of Mindfulness

My Yoga teacher, Poonam Sevta ma’am, conducted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Instagram recently. One question really got me thinking, and the best part is that her answer left no space for doubt.

Q: How to control negative emotions?

A: Don’t control, embrace them. We are humans, so we need to feel and embrace all our emotions freely. Pranayama and meditation help.

In a world where we’re often told to “stay strong” or “move on,” we sometimes forget that embracing our emotions is essential for living a mindful and authentic life. Mindfulness isn’t about suppressing or ignoring what we feel, it’s about acknowledging and accepting our emotions as they are.

Why Embrace Emotions?

Our emotions, whether joyful or painful, are a natural part of being human. When we push them aside, they often manifest in other ways—stress, anxiety, or even physical discomfort. Embracing emotions allows us to understand them better and process them in a healthy way.

How to Embrace Your Emotions

1. Name What You Feel

Give your emotions a name—joy, anger, sadness, excitement, fear. Naming helps create clarity and reduces the power of overwhelming feelings. Instead of saying, “I’m upset,” try, “I’m feeling frustrated because…” This shifts your focus from reaction to reflection.

Two days ago, I was sad. When I tried addressing that emotion, I heard myself saying, I am sad because I am bored. Bored with the monotonous activities of life. Then I reminded myself that sometimes, normal, usual, predictable days are better than unpredictable, chaotic days. And this shift in thought cheered me a bit.

2. Sit With Your Feelings

It’s tempting to distract yourself from uncomfortable emotions, but sitting with them helps you process them fully. Take a few moments to breathe deeply and observe what you’re feeling without judgment. Ask yourself:

  • Where do I feel this in my body?
  • What might this emotion be telling me?

Long ago, I read in one of the books by Osho that when you feel an emotion that is disturbing you, try going to the roots of that feeling, and this process helps you to embrace or overcome the emotion.

3. Practice Self-Compassion

Be kind to yourself when you experience intense emotions. Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. Sometimes saying, “It’s human to feel this way,” can ease the pressure to “fix” your emotions quickly.

4. Use Movement to Express

If sitting still feels too hard, express your emotions through movement. Dance, go for a walk, or write in a journal. Let the movement or words flow without censoring yourself.

I often write to pour my emotions on a blank page, and it makes me feel empty and light. Sometimes, performing Vinyasa, a dynamic movement of yoga poses, helps me calm down and elevate my mood.

5. Seek Support When Needed

Some emotions can feel too heavy to carry alone. Reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist can provide comfort and perspective. Sharing your feelings is a powerful way to release them.

The Gift of Embracing Emotions

When you embrace your emotions, you’re not just honoring your feelings—you’re honoring yourself. Over time, this practice helps you build resilience, deepen your self-awareness, and approach life’s highs and lows with grace.

A Simple Practice to Start Today

At the end of your day, take 5 minutes to reflect:

  • What emotions did I feel today?
  • How did I respond to them?
  • Is there anything I need to let go of before tomorrow?

Write down your answers, and you might be surprised by how much lighter you feel.

Conclusion

Embracing emotions is the foundation of mindfulness. It teaches us that every feeling has a purpose and deserves our attention. So next time a wave of emotion comes your way, don’t push it away. Welcome it, learn from it, and let it guide you back to yourself.

PS: This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mister Tikku.

52 Replies to “Embracing Emotions: The Heart of Mindfulness”

  1. I love how you dug into the idea that emotions aren’t enemies but messengers, guiding us toward self-awareness and compassion. Your personal anecdote about sitting quietly and letting grief wash through you really hit home it reminded me that it’s okay to pause and feel, even when it’s uncomfortable. The way you broke down the steps recognize the emotion, welcome it kindly, and observe without judgment felt super practical and something I can actually try during a hectic day. I’m already imagining taking five minutes before bed to just check in with myself and let whatever’s there sit with me. Your reminder to treat ourselves like we’d treat a friend when upset really resonated; imagining giving myself a hug instead of judgment is a game-changer. The idea that accepting emotions helps them flow instead of freeze feels like a soft rebellion against the “just move on” message I carry sometimes. I also appreciated how you emphasized mindfulness isn’t about erasing feelings but befriending them it makes it feel doable, not lofty.

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  2. I love how you dug into the idea that emotions aren’t enemies but messengers, guiding us toward self-awareness and compassion. Your personal anecdote about sitting quietly and letting grief wash through you really hit home it reminded me that it’s okay to pause and feel, even when it’s uncomfortable. The way you broke down the steps recognize the emotion, welcome it kindly, and observe without judgment felt super practical and something I can actually try during a hectic day. I’m already imagining taking five minutes before bed to just check in with myself and let whatever’s there sit with me. Your reminder to treat ourselves like we’d treat a friend when upset really resonated; imagining giving myself a hug instead of judgment is a game-changer. The idea that accepting emotions helps them flow instead of freeze feels like a soft rebellion against the “just move on” message I carry sometimes. I also appreciated how you emphasized mindfulness isn’t about erasing feelings but befriending them it makes it feel doable, not lofty.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Loved this message of embracing emotions. I am struggling with mine and I am going to try doing what you have recommended. I do embrace them most of the time, but if you are bombarded by negativity all the time, what can one do? I do practice yoga, meditation, I walk, eat simple vegetarian food yet I go through a lot of anxiety.

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    1. Thank yiu for sharing your thoughts! I totally get it, dealing with emotions is always tricky and challenging. We all are on this path learning and relearning what works best for us. I wish you more strength!

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  5. Perhaps, the toughest thing to do is to unravel your emotions. I often journal a lot of stuff to get it out of my system. It’s become the best way to handle the tough aspects of life. Your teacher has given a good perspective.

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  6. Such a beautiful reminder that mindfulness isn’t about avoiding emotions, but about embracing them fully. I loved how you weaved in creativity, compassion, and self-awareness—perfect little spark for a deeply present day. Such heart-centered insights, Pinki. Well done

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  7. Embracing each emotions is very much necessary and your blog is a mindful reflection to remind me there is no need to suppress my feelings for any reason.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Emotions are such tricky business and to control them is an altogether different drama. It feels complicated but your blog makes it simple by giving confidence that it’s okay you got this. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the reality check.

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  9. This was a calming read. I really liked how you emphasized accepting emotions without judgment-it’s such a core part of mindfulness that’s often missed.
    Your writing gently reminds us that being present starts with being honest with ourselves.

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  11. So often we’re told to just push negative feelings away, but embracing them feels way more honest and healing. Naming emotions and sitting with them is tough but sounds like a kind way to truly understand ourselves. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful reminder.

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  12. It is a lovely post resonating with positivity. It took me years to be kind to myself and letting to accept the emotions and then gradually let them go.I also find moving meditation more fulfilling and easier to practice.I wish I could have learnt this much earlier but its is never too late for a good thing to happen.

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  13. I’ve often struggled with the idea of “controlling” emotions, but your words really helped shift my perspective. Embracing them feels so much more natural and kind. Loved the practical tips, especially naming the emotion and journaling, it really works!

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  14. This really spoke to my heart. I’ve often tried to “fix” my emotions, but your words reminded me of the beauty in simply allowing myself to feel. Thank you for sharing this gentle wisdom — it’s a gift I needed today.

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  15. This really spoke to my heart. I’ve often tried to “fix” my emotions, but your words reminded me of the beauty in simply allowing myself to feel. Thank you for sharing this gentle wisdom — it’s a gift I needed today.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. This really spoke to my heart. I’ve often tried to “fix” my emotions, but your words reminded me of the beauty in simply allowing myself to feel. Thank you for sharing this gentle wisdom — it’s a gift I needed today.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Such a wonderful message to rethink our own emotions and feel them mindfully. We can’t avoid what our body, mind, and soul want and how they act via emotions. lovely read.

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  18. Absolutely loved your post. We are always told not to feel bad. It is not right to hide or push down our feelings. We need to deal with them correctly and move forward.

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  19. This beautifully captures the essence of mindfulness—embracing emotions rather than controlling them nurtures self-awareness, healing, and resilience. True strength lies in feeling deeply and honoring every part of our human experience.

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  21. Beautiful reminder that mindfulness isn’t just attention ; it’s emotional regulation too. Noticing our inner ups and downs cultivates empathy, reduces rumination, and helps us stay grounded in the present .

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  22. Negative emotions are hard to control so to accept and deal with them to see them through is definitely good advice. Personally, I like to be alone and do random stuff like going for a walk, reading or hitting the gym.

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  23. I being an healer can very well resonate with the concept of embracing emotions in life. We need to feel and experience every emotion be it fear or hapiness, Love or anger, pain or stress….. and if we dont feel it trust me we will never understand how important and valuable this life is. Experience your emotions and then heal it and if you are ready to seek support or assistance to overcome the negative emotions do not hesitate to ask for support… life will be better and brighter for you. A very valuable and important post which deserves a round of applause.

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