Thoughts, Feelings & Freedom

by Linda Andrews

I was first introduced to emotions and feelings, like most of us, in the middle of an emotional moment. But real awareness of my emotions came later in life. That awareness became the beginning of what feels like freedom.

I began to understand that emotions carry information. Learning to feel my feelings instead of suppressing them led to greater clarity, self-awareness, and choice. It may sound simple, and you may feel like you already have this down, but I invite you to pause and check in with your emotions this week. What are they trying to tell you?

The Power of Processing

In his book Letting Go, David Hawkins shares a detailed Map of Consciousness, a scale of emotions that helps us understand how we move between states. I first heard about this in a Wayne Dyer lecture. He described how quickly we can shift: picture something sad, like a dog being hurt, and then picture something joyful, like a child playing for the first time. The shift in feeling is immediate.

The key is noticing when you are in a disempowering thought or feeling, and then choosing to shift. With awareness, you can create space to move toward an empowering state.

As they say, you cannot get to where you are going unless you know where you are. Emotions help you locate yourself. Years ago, I remember the first time I consciously recognized anger. I said out loud, “I am angry,” and then laughed, because I was so happy to finally feel it.

Your Next Step

The real freedom comes from moving through emotions in real time. Awareness, mindfulness, meditation, and breath are tools that help you practice this.

Ask yourself: Is this how I want to feel right now? That simple question can redirect you toward a more empowered experience of life.

Clarity, freedom, and purpose begin with awareness.

Start the 22-Day Reset to create a daily ritual that helps you connect with your thoughts, process your feelings, and step into freedom.