Understanding Emotions: What They Reveal About Us
- Sarah Bodo
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
💭 Have you ever had a moment where emotions hit you so strongly that you didn’t even know how to put them into words?
For years, I struggled to name and express my emotions. I focused on my goals, worked through challenges, and moved forward — but I rarely paused to ask myself,
“What am I actually feeling right now?”
It wasn’t until I invested in personal development, coaching education, and deep self-reflection that I started to truly understand my emotions. And honestly? It was uncomfortable at first and still learning to name emotions.
I used to think emotions were just reactions — things that happened to me.
Now, I see them as powerful signals that can help us understand ourselves better.
When Emotions Take Over: A Personal Story
Recently, I worked on a personal project that I poured my energy into —something that felt deeply meaningful to me. After weeks of refining ideas and perfecting every detail, I had to pitch my project to potential investors.
I had rehearsed my presentation a hundred times. I knew my numbers, my vision, and the impact I wanted to create. But once I stood there, presenting, something unexpected happened.
At first, adrenaline kicked in — I was fully in the moment, delivering my pitch with confidence. But afterward, as I stepped out of the room and reflected on what had just happened, I was hit with a wave of overwhelming emotions.
💡 Excitement — I had done it! I finally put my vision out into the world.
💡 Relief — Weeks of preparation were behind me.
💡 Gratitude — For the people who supported me throughout the process.
💡 Fear — What if it wasn’t enough? What if I put all this work in, and it still doesn’t happen?
And then, tears welled up in my eyes — not from sadness, but from the sheer intensity of the moment.
As a child, I was told not to cry in public, that tears were a sign of weakness. But in that moment, I realized that my tears weren’t about weakness at all. They were about feeling deeply, about how much this moment meant to me.
What Emotions Are Really Telling Us
Emotions aren’t random — they’re signals that tell us something important.
🔹 Joy tells us what fulfills us.
🔹 Sadness signals a loss or something that needs to be processed.
🔹 Fear warns us of potential danger or uncertainty.
🔹 Anger often points to a violated boundary or unmet need.
🔹 Disgust helps us avoid harmful situations.
🔹 Surprise allows us to stay open and adaptable.
But here’s the thing — we often ignore these signals instead of listening to them.
How I Started Listening to My Emotions
One of my biggest breakthroughs came when I started paying attention to where emotions show up in my body:
📍 Anger → Tightness in my chest (especially when my values, like fairness or integrity, are challenged).
📍 Nervousness → A lump in my throat, difficulty speaking, feeling paralyzed.
📍 Excitement & Joy → A rush of energy, sometimes even tears when I feel deeply aligned with something.
Once I understood these signals, I started using them in everyday conversations:
🔹 Instead of ignoring frustration, I say: “I feel angry because my boundary wasn’t respected.”
🔹 Instead of pushing down nervousness, I ask myself: “What’s making me feel unsafe here?”
🔹 Instead of questioning my tears, I acknowledge: “This moment really matters to me or it is totally overwhelming me right now.”
Movies like Inside Out remind us that all emotions serve a purpose — even the difficult ones.
Practical Ways to Work With Your Emotions
If you find yourself overwhelmed by emotions or unsure of what they mean, here are some things to try:
✅ Pause & Identify – What am I feeling? Where do I feel it in my body?
✅ Reflect – What is this emotion trying to tell me? Is it about a need, a boundary, or a situation that requires my attention?
✅ Name It – Simply saying “I feel [emotion] right now” helps you process it instead of suppressing it.
✅ Express It – Talk about it, write it down, or channel it into something productive.
Emotions are part of our human experience, and understanding them is a powerful tool for self-awareness, growth, and connection.
What About You?
How do you experience emotions? Do you allow yourself to feel them, or do you push them aside?
I’d love to hear—what’s one emotion you’ve been feeling deeply lately? Let’s talk! 💬
Find Your Wave,
Sarah 🌊
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