From the time I was a little girl until a few years ago, I always changed the radio station when a song came on that made me feel sad.

I didn’t want to feel nostalgic or upset so I would switch it to a happy song every time a tear jerker wafted through the speakers.

Back then it was Stevie Nicks’ Landslide that would make me feel too much, and cry if I was somewhere I couldn’t switch it – like a restaurant or Abercrombie & Fitch (I owned, like, the entire store in high school).

Landslide still makes me cry. The difference now? I let it play through.

Why?

Because now I know there’s something that needs to be processed if tears come up.

And I know it’ll manifest in other ways (hello shoulder tension and belly fat) if I try to stop it.

By switching the station, I was pushing down my emotions.

If a song makes you cry, there’s an emotion inside you that needs to come out and be fully expressed through tears, or rage, or melancholy.

If it’s not expressed, it’ll show up as sadness, anger, depression, excess weight, bloating, and/or anxiety (usually it’s all of the above, TBH).

Why? If you ignore your emotions by blasting a happy song and pretending to be psyched, physical tension builds up in your body.

If you push down your feelings or don’t allow yourself to fully process a tragic event, like a death in the family, it’s probably the reason you’re still hanging on to uncomfortable belly fat, and feeling kind of mehhh on a daily basis (if you’re honest with yourself) – even though your life and career look great on paper.

Have you noticed how relaxed and light you feel after a good cry?

That translates to a lighter physical body.

How?

Releasing emotion engages your parasympathetic nervous system, or rest and digest system, allowing you to metabolize your food quickly and release excess weight with ease.

You’ll also feel happier as you release emotion on a regular basis, and therefore be more likely to choose nourishing foods and hit the gym, yoga studio, or dance floor.

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.”

Ok, that’s an extreme example of suppressed emotion, but I’ll use any excuse to reference Legally Blonde.

Don’t lie, you love it. 😉

Here’s what I want you to do today:

1. Blast the song that brings up the most emotion for you.
2. Let yourself cry full-out. If you notice anger, scream or hit a pillow.
3. Journal about it. Write down why you’re sad, angry, or scared (or all of the above).
4. Rest. After releasing, lay down with a relaxing book or just for a nap.
5. Shower. Rinse away the residual emotions, wiping the slate clean.

Trust me, you’ll feel like a new person – lighter and happier.

If you do this regularly (I recommend weekly), you’ll naturally let go of weight your body and psyche don’t need.

Do you switch the station when sad songs come on or let ’em rip?

When do you plan to go through my 5-step emotional release formula?

Leave a comment below and tell me.

So much love and hugs,
Lula