Episode 31 - How to Feel Your Emotions Without Being Hijacked

Hi Love!Welcome back to Becoming Her. I’m Steph, Jeanetta’s business partner. Most days you’ll find me behind the scenes polishing episodes and quietly cheering her on, but today I wanted to share a recent experience of feeling big emotions in my body.This past week I was in Minneapolis visiting family and friends. I haven’t lived in South Minneapolis in over a decade, and between the hugs, the familiar streets, and the conversations that stretched late into the night, I could feel myself carrying more than just my backpack.I’ve been doing a lot of self-work lately, learning to notice, name, and process my emotions. And still, in the middle of all that love and connection, there were moments when my body spoke louder than my words. One night, seven of us were tossing around ideas about where to eat. I’d been craving vegetables after a fried-food binge the day before, but it was Monday and most places were closed. Everyone kept asking me what I wanted, and I just froze. The map searches weren’t helping, the choices felt too big, and the overwhelm hit me like a wave.In that moment, my body was so full of feeling I couldn’t form a sentence. So I cried. I stepped out of the room, not because I didn’t care, but because I needed to feel what was happening before I could speak. And that’s the practice, isn’t it? To notice when our bodies are asking for a pause. To let the tears be the translation when words aren’t ready.This week, Jeanetta guides us through the tender, necessary work of learning how to feel our emotions without being hijacked by them. She breaks down the science of the nervous system, shares somatic tools for noticing and naming sensations, and offers step-by-step ways to process fear, grief, and anxiety so they don’t run the show. Listening reminded me that these moments aren’t failures, they’re invitations—to be curious instead of judgmental, to return to our breath, and to remember that emotions are just energy in motion.Much love,StephEpisode SummaryIn this powerful follow-up to last week’s conversation on shame and leadership, Jeanetta Bodie takes us deeper into the how—how to actually feel your emotions in your body without being controlled by them. You’ll learn why emotions live in the nervous system, how to separate sensations from stories, and simple somatic tools to help you process feelings instead of getting stuck in them.Drawing on both science and lived experience, Jeanetta shares step-by-step practices for noticing, naming, breathing through, and completing emotional cycles. From “what-if fantasy” anxiety to “regret hangover” depression, she offers a grounded, compassionate approach to staying present—especially during life’s messy transitions. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or simply navigating change, this episode will help you build the emotional capacity needed for authentic leadership.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:* Why emotions are more than thoughts—they’re experiences in your nervous system* The difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems* How to name sensations before attaching a story or identity to them* The role of breath in signaling safety to your body* Practical tools for processing fear, grief, and anxiety without getting stuck* The leadership power of tending to your own inner ecosystem firstResources & Links Mentioned:* The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron* Empower Your Core course – now moving to somamoonwellness.com* Join the free Soma Circle Pilot Session – August 20, 4 PM PT (email Jeanetta at [email protected] for the Zoom link)* Substack: Subscribe for updates and reflections* Instagram: @somamoonwellness This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit somamoonwellness.substack.com/subscribe