3 min read

Last year I read a book¹ about releasing trapped emotions.  I’d heard of ‘emotional baggage’ but never really thought about how much I might be carrying or that I could release it. 

We all have emotions, big and little, all the time, and if for some reason we don’t process our emotions fully, they get stuck or trapped.  We move on, but our bodies hold that unprocessed emotion. 

The whole concept of releasing trapped emotions really resonated with me and I’ve been working with it ever since.  I recently cleared a trapped emotion of ‘Taken for Granted’.  During the process, which for me is like a meditation, I could feel the sense of being taken for granted come up, the resentment – why doesn’t anyone ever see me, see what I do, appreciate me, acknowledge my contribution?  I don’t know exactly where it came from, not from anything I was currently experiencing, but it felt big.

And then it dawned on me … I don’t appreciate me.  I take me for granted.  I often discount my contribution and dismiss my inner wisdom.  How could anyone else appreciate me if I didn’t appreciate myself?  Good question.

Rebecca Campbell² writes, “In order for other people to acknowledge us, first we need to acknowledge ourselves.  The people in our lives are merely mirrors reflecting back to us what we believe about the Universe and ourselves.  … What am I not seeing in myself that longs to be seen?”

I saw that the only way to stop feeling taken for granted by others is to stop taking myself for granted.  Once I came to that realization and apologized to myself, I could feel the trapped emotion releasing.  My body relaxed and when it felt like the emotion was completely released, I mentally filled every cell in my body with love and appreciation.

Martha Beck³ describes that when you get “in touch with the deep sense of truth” that she calls your ‘Inner Teacher’ … you can feel it in all aspects of your being (body/mind/heart/soul) at once.”

She explains that the “body’s reaction to recognizing truth is relaxation, a literal, involuntary release of muscle tension”.  Check, I definitely felt that. 

“When our minds recognize truth, we experience that invisible cartoon light bulb going on in our heads, the feeling of a riddle being solved.  … All the puzzle pieces fit.  The math works.  Everything makes logical sense.”  Yep, total light bulb moment.

“To our heart, the ring of truth feels like a flower opening up … we’re completely available to all emotion: overwhelming love, deep grief, terrible anger, sharp fear.”  Again, a big yes.  I completely felt the emotion I was releasing and lots of other ones too – ending with a big flow of love, compassion, and gratitude. 

Finally, “The emotional pain of a hard truth is eased by our soul’s response to aligning with reality.  Around and beyond mere emotion, we feel a sense of freedom, a vast openness that includes all aspects of our experience.”  Thanks Martha, that pretty much sums it up. 

Releasing this particular trapped emotion made me realize how much I need to appreciate myself more, love myself more, and to listen to my inner voice more.  Basically, to give myself everything I would like to receive from others.  I’m looking forward to seeing what that reflects back to me in life. 

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1. The Emotion Code by Dr. Bradley Nelson
2. Light is the New Black: A Guide to Answering your Soul’s Callings and Working Your Light by Rebecca Campbell
3. The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self by Martha Beck