BBR #207: First step to emotional regulation: Feel the feelings

Today we're talking feelings, you know, those things we try so hard to ignore, shove down, or pretend don’t exist? “I’m fine… EVERYTHING IS FINE!!!” Sound familiar?

This week, I’m diving into emotional regulation—not just to deal with stress, anxiety, or overwhelm, but to actually allow ourselves to feel the feelings. Because ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. It just leaves us stuck, disconnected, and sometimes even overwhelmed by things we don’t fully understand.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why dissociation is a survival tool—and why it can’t be a long-term strategy.
• The power of naming your emotions (Dr. Peter Levine calls it “Name It to Tame It”).
• How having a bigger emotional vocabulary helps you understand yourself and communicate better.
• Recognizing the sensations in your body—what they’re telling you and how to respond.
• Why it’s okay to feel scared, hurt, or even joy that feels too big to hold.

I’ll share my own journey of learning to stop running from emotions and start making space for them, even when they’re messy, uncomfortable, or downright scary. Because feelings are just information. They don’t control you—they guide you.

We’ll also talk about tools like emotional vocabulary wheels, noticing body sensations, and calming your nervous system so you can better respond to what your emotions are asking of you.

It’s not about getting rid of your feelings. It’s about deciding what you’ll do with them.

get in there and give it a listen!