All of our emotions carry a frequency. On this site we talk a lot about how negative emotions can lower our overall frequency and how positive emotions can raise it. But have you ever wondered what emotions in the body actually look like?
Emotions Are Powerful
Emotions can be very powerful, and the key is learning how to govern them. We do not want our emotions to control us, overrun our lives, or affect our health in a negative way. I believe our emotions affect us all the way down to our DNA, and as a result, our physical health too.
What Emotions in the Body Look Like
In a fascinating 2014 study, researchers in Finland asked hundreds of people to color in where they felt different emotions in their bodies. The results, published as “Bodily maps of emotions,” showed clear patterns. Emotions like love and happiness lit up the whole body, while emotions like depression and sadness showed up as a loss of feeling, especially in the arms and legs.
Stored Emotions and Pain
When negative emotions get stored in the body, I believe they can show up as physical pain. Many people notice that stress settles in the shoulders, grief sits heavy in the chest, and fear shows up in the stomach. If you would like to learn how to let go of stored negative emotions, see my post on how to release stored emotions.
If you would like to learn more about how your emotions may affect your DNA, check out this video on our DNA and emotions, and my post on our DNA and beliefs.
The Scale of Emotions
Pushing emotions down and refusing to acknowledge them can be one of the darkest places to be. Love and joy are among the highest frequencies. When you are being your true self, giving and receiving pure love, your vibration will be at its best.
Dr. David Hawkins created a well-known scale of emotions and consciousness in his book Power vs. Force. Here are the levels he assigned to each emotion, from highest to lowest:
- Enlightenment: 700 to 1000
- Peace: 600
- Joy: 540
- Love: 500
- Reason: 400
- Acceptance: 350
- Willingness: 310
- Neutrality: 250
- Courage: 200
- Pride: 175
- Anger: 150
- Desire: 125
- Fear: 100
- Grief: 75
- Apathy: 50
- Guilt: 30
- Shame: 20
Notice that courage, at 200, is the turning point. Everything below it tends to drain our energy, and everything above it starts to build us up.
How to Raise the Emotions in Your Body
We can change the world around us with our emotions. Look at this list and see where you are. Where do you normally function?
- Find the level where you usually live.
- Choose the level just above it.
- Move into that space and try to hold that new level throughout the day.
- Take it one day at a time until it feels comfortable, then reach for the next level.
A few simple things can help you move up the scale:
- Breathe. Slow, deep breaths calm the body and help stuck emotions move.
- Move your body. A walk, dancing, or stretching helps release what is stored.
- Practice gratitude. It is one of the fastest ways to shift your energy.
- Listen to uplifting music. Sound changes how we feel almost instantly.
- Name what you feel. Simply acknowledging an emotion helps it pass instead of getting stuck.
Small steps up the scale add up. Over time, you will notice how the emotions in your body shift, and how your whole life starts to feel lighter. For more ideas, see my post on how to raise your vibration and my post on the emotional heart.
