Nourishing Yourself From the Inside Out-Holistic Healing Fair

 Why Feeling Your Feelings Matters

September is a season of transition. The air cools, routines shift, and nature begins her graceful process of letting go. Just as the trees release their leaves, we’re invited to release what no longer serves us. But before we can truly let go, there’s one step many of us skip: actually feeling what’s there.

Our Body’s Natural Defenses

When something painful or overwhelming arises, our nervous system steps in to protect us. These protective responses often look like:

• Going numb or shutting down (freeze)
• Distracting ourselves or staying busy (flight)
• Getting defensive or lashing out (fight)
• Over-pleasing or fixing to avoid conflict (fawn)

These aren’t flaws – they’re survival strategies our bodies learned to keep us safe. In the moment, they shield us from emotions that feel too big to handle. The problem is, when we stay stuck in these patterns, we never actually process the feelings underneath. Over time, those buried emotions can turn into tension, burnout, or even illness.

The Power of Recognition

Healing begins with something simple but powerful: recognition.

When you pause and name what you’re feeling, “I’m anxious,” “I feel lonely,” “I feel overwhelmed” – you interrupt the automatic defense response.

Recognition doesn’t mean diving headfirst into pain. It’s simply saying: “I see you. I feel you. I’m safe to listen now.”

This gentle awareness shifts your nervous system from survival mode into healing mode. Suddenly, the feeling becomes less overwhelming, and the door to true release opens.

Be Gentle With Yourself

As you recognize emotions, breathe with them. Slow, steady breaths signal to your body that it’s safe to soften. Place a hand on your heart, inhale deeply, and exhale as if you’re releasing tension with your breath.

Remember, emotions often have deep roots. A trigger today may be tied to an old wound where you first learned to suppress or protect yourself. Instead of judging, try asking:

• Where might this feeling have started?
• Is there a memory or belief shaping the way I respond?

Approach your feelings with curiosity, not criticism, and you’ll begin to untangle the pattern at its root – making space for healthier ways of being.

Naming as the First Step to Healing

Just like you’d tend to a scraped knee, emotional wounds need care too. By naming what’s there, you give your body permission to process it instead of holding it tightly inside.

When we allow ourselves to feel and name emotions, the old coping habits – overworking, over-giving, numbing – begin to loosen their grip. That’s when letting go becomes possible. That’s where nourishment begins.

Small Practices to Try Right Now

Here are gentle ways to support yourself this month:

1. Two-Minute Check-In – Pause, close your eyes, and ask: “What am I feeling right now?” Even one word brings awareness.
2. Write It Out – Set a 5-minute timer and let your pen move without editing. Release what your body has been holding.
3. Breath + Release – Try square breathing: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4. With each exhale, imagine letting go of something heavy.
4. Letting Go Ritual – Write down what you’re ready to release. Burn it, rip it up, or return it to the earth.
5. One Nourishing Swap – Next time stress hits, swap your usual distraction for something soothing: a cup of tea, a stretch, or fresh air.

Reflection Prompts for September

• What emotion am I resisting right now?
• If I let myself feel it, what might it teach me?
• What old pattern is connected to this feeling?
• What am I ready to release, like the leaves falling this season?

Shaping a Nourished New You

Just as trees let go to prepare for new growth, we too can release the emotions and patterns that no longer serve us. Feeling your feelings isn’t weakness – it’s the foundation of healing.

This September, give yourself permission to pause, name, breathe, and be gentle. In doing so, you create space for a steadier, lighter, and more nourished version of yourself to emerge.