Are Your Emotions Guiding You…or Ruling You?

Notice how different emotions make us feel…different.

That’s because emotions are energy.

They guide us and lead us to make choices that matter to us.

If I repeatedly stub my toe on the same stool, that ‘Ouch, not again!’ tells me to move it out of the way. Without that flare of frustration, I might keep banging my toe until it’s bruised – maybe even broken.

As one master I studied with always said, “Emotions are wonderful guides … and terrible masters.”

When we let emotions guide us, they flow through. They help us make decisions for ourselves.

But when they consume us, when they become masters…

…They block our energy.

…They hold us back.

…They. Make. Us. Feel. Stuck.

A distressing situation came up for Valerie – right when she was already very sick. Combined with her long relationship with depression and bipolar tendencies, it felt like life just wouldn’t give her a break.

When she noticed herself starting to spiral, instead of giving in to her old habit to hide under the covers, this time she let her breath flow in and out, felt the ground beneath her feet, and moved through her Tai Chi practice.

“I felt so empowered that I could actually do something. That I could feel everything and let it pass through – and now I feel so resilient.”

When Jennifer’s brother died suddenly, she couldn’t get to her family right away. She stepped outside into her yard and began to flow through her Tai Chi movements while she wept. 

With tears rolling down her face, she repeated our simple mantra: 

“Feel the ground beneath my feet, the ground beneath my feet, the ground beneath my feet…”

Her presence allowed her to be with her grief without being overwhelmed by it.

Kate describes herself as a “stress head,” often taking on too much and carrying it home from work. 

As a teen, she experienced severe stomach issues, initially diagnosed as Crohn’s disease, which she later realised were actually caused by extreme anxiety.

Through the slow, methodical movements and breaths of Qi Gong, she found calm, centeredness, and connection with her body. Her practice gave her tools to move through anxiety, grief, and fear, helping her notice tension and release it before it takes over. 

She sleeps more soundly and feels more centered and confident each day. 

It hadn’t occurred to her how much worry had been affecting her health until she experienced the difference.

Our emotions are important. They guide us, show us what matters, and help us make choices that are right for us. 

But when they take over, when they rule instead of guide, they can create blocks and keep us feeling stuck.

Noticing them – honouring them – makes it easier for them to flow. 

And when we allow that, we create space for what we truly want: to be at ease, confident in clarity, strong in energy.

Are your emotions guides…or masters?

Do you feel stuck…or in flow?

Are you holding on…or letting go?

Next, we’ll explore the mental body and how shifting your thoughts can open the door to possibility.