You are allowed to feel 💜
There’s a popular mindfulness misconception: Meditation is about being in control of your thoughts. Our thoughts, though, are an extension of our feelings. And our feelings are an extension of past and present experiences. How could they be controlled, then? Should they be suppressed? Or do we need to find a way to be at peace with them and treat them like visitors?
Consider this newsletter edition like a musical. We will analyze three songs and, through them, discover the answer to the big question: What’s wrong with feeling?
This is our agenda:
💃 Choreomania: When feeling is allowed
😡 Good 4 you: When you’re the priority
🤷♂️ Francesca: When we don’t regret it
📱 Content recommendation and what’s new
💃 Choreomania: When feeling is allowed
The mythical Florence Welch and her band, The Machine, have an inspiring song called 'Choreomania.' The first quote of this newsletter is part of the lyrics to this song. Do you feel related to it? We're asking because, as mindfulness practitioners, we often practice gratitude daily and try to focus on the positive side of life. Which can lead to a pattern of diminishing our burdens.
Like we always compare our situation with people who have it worse so we can find peace in what it is with our lives. But… What if we tell you that you are allowed to complain?
Your anxiety does not mean less than other people's anxiety. Your fear is not less scary than someone else's. All your emotions are real, but they are more real to you. And that's why it's okay to feel them, regardless of your background, social privileges, and current circumstances.
Choreomania is a hymn for those who are looking forward to expressing themselves through dance and willing to let the drums of the song guide their feet and arms.
But the most special part of the lyrics is this one: And do they speak to you? 'Cause they speak to me, too. The pressure and the panic you push your body through. What Florence is acknowledging here is that, as a human collective, we share burdens, joys, expectations… We are together in this. And the more we allow ourselves to feel, the better we can be there for each other.
😡 Good 4 you: When you’re the priority
This is a teenage anthem, but a great tune to go through a breakup, nonetheless. You probably never thought you’d read about Olivia Rodrigo in a mindfulness newsletter, but still, her song ‘Good 4 you’ has the perfect rhythm and lyrics to do two things: Feel anger and prioritize ourselves.
Things in life are indeed a consequence of a million other past things. It is also true that we do have control over our actions and decisions. But.. If that’s the case, then what’s the purpose of an emotion like anger?
Anger, often misunderstood, is not just a reaction to a threat, but a powerful tool for self-protection. It serves as a catalyst for perceived injustice, a response to a threat, and a way to shield ourselves.
In this song, Olivia manifests through the heavy rock music and her loud voice the unfairness of how bad she feels, while her ex-partner seems to be enjoying life to the fullest. Is that fair? Is she overreacting? Well, there can be more than one answer to those questions. Still, her anger is absolutely real, and that is okay.
Challenging emotions like this one can make us feel inappropriate; like we should simply breathe in and exhale it quickly before anyone notices. But hey, feeling them without remorse or shame is also a way to prioritize yourself. This is about how you feel; then comes everything else.
🤷♂️ Francesca: When we don’t regret it
A few years ago, the super-talented Irish composer touched our hearts with ‘Take Me To Church.’ And now, he ignites them with a song about two lovers that, despite the ending, would go through it all again.
‘Francesca’ is one of those songs that reminds us of our choices—the good and bad ones. The choices that put us in scary situations, but choices that we would take over and over again, whether because they were worth it or because they made us grow even stronger.
Looking back on our past, we may remember situations that hurt us, goals we didn’t achieve, and even relationships we didn’t want to end. Then again, did any of those things teach you something? Did you become more resilient?
If you pay attention to Hozier’s tone when he says “put me back in it,” you can actually feel his reassurance of wanting to go through it all over again. Because to him, it was worth it. Because the lessons and later experiences were worth it.
So, dear reader, if there’s something you don’t regret doing, even if those around you don’t understand it fully, live that feeling. Enjoy the reassurance. This is your life to live.
📱 Content recommendation and what’s new
Meditations
New meditation series
Thank you for joining us today. We hope this musical journey inspires you to embrace the range of your emotions and that you can start perceiving them as visitors instead of permanent guests.
Before leaving, and to answer the question that started this edition: There’s nothing wrong with feeling any emotion. They all have a purpose and are very real to each of us. Try not to focus solely on how others will perceive you; it all begins with you, and your approach to your feelings is what matters the most.
See you next week!