Health Shift Experiment #13: Move the Emotion

Move Before You Analyse

When difficult emotions appear, our first instinct is often to think about them. This week, try moving first.

Why this experiment?

Emotions are not only thoughts. They also involve changes in breathing, heart rate, muscle tension and movement. Sometimes changing what your body is doing also changes how the emotion feels.

The experiment

Whenever you notice irritation, anxiety, sadness or frustration:

• Spend two minutes moving.

• Walk.

• Stretch.

• Shake your arms.

• Dance.

• Take a few slow breaths.

Then pause and notice whether the emotion feels the same, stronger or weaker.

If it's harder than expected

The emotion may not disappear.

That's not the goal.

The experiment is simply to discover how closely your emotions and your body are connected.

Make it easier

Don't wait until you're highly stressed.

Try it first with smaller frustrations during everyday life.

Try it

Try it for seven days. If you notice a difference, continue for another two weeks and see what changes.