The Spectrum of Emotions: Embracing the Fullness of Being Human

If you ask me which emotions I’was most comfortable expressing, I’d probably say sadness, frustration, or even anger. Oddly enough, it’s joy, happiness, and excitement that often felt overwhelming to me as though my nervous system did not quite know how to hold them.

This emotional pattern didn’t just shape my personal experience, it shaped my journey as a coach,

a yoga teacher, a mother, and an entrepreneur. I work with women like me: sensitive, self-aware women in moments of transition, whether building a business, redefining a career, or reclaiming their voice after years of trying to do things the “right” way.

In a world that tells us to “be positive” and “keep it together,” feeling deeply is often misunderstood. But emotions are not weaknesses. They are messengers, and they’ve become the most powerful tool in my life and business.

Emotion vs. Feeling: Why the Difference Matters

Many people use emotion and feeling interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same.

• Emotions are physical, instinctive reactions from the body to external or internal events,like a wave of heat, a quickened heartbeat, or a tight chest.

• Feelings are how we interpret those reactions in the mind, the conscious labeling and storytelling that happens after the emotion arises (which become our beliefs).

In short: Emotion is the body’s message. Feeling is the mind’s translation.

This distinction is key for women navigating complex decisions, inner doubts, or creative blocks. When you can pause and say, “Wait, what is this sensation trying to tell me?”, you start to respond, not react. That’s where clarity and confidence are born.

Emotional Literacy Is a Superpower

Most of us were never taught how to feel, let alone how to name what we’re feeling. But developing emotional literacy, the ability to identify and understand our emotions, is one of the most impactful skills we can build.

It improves communication.

It deepens relationships.

It strengthens leadership.

It supports intuition.

And it shapes the way we create and run a business.

In my coaching work, I help women expand their emotional vocabulary so they can move from saying, “I’m overwhelmed,” to “I’m feeling disappointment, and underneath that, a longing to be seen.” But, most to understand how to support yourself clearly, and what you need if you are feeling disappointed, it will be different if you are feeling sad or even overwhelmed. That clarity changes everything such as better communication, clear boundaries, feeling less overwhelmed and it also impact. All this also support building your emotional intelligence which is helpful, trust me in your every day life not even to become a better leader but at home as well in your relationship in general.

My Story: Building a Business in Tune With Emotion

For the past year, I’ve been building my own business, not from a rigid plan, but from deep emotional awareness. And it changed everything.

I used to believe I should be on Instagram to succeed. That social media was essential. That visibility had to look a certain way. But every time I showed up there, my body said no. My energy felt scattered. My creativity shut down. My values were in conflict.

So I listened to my emotions. I let them guide me toward more aligned ways of working, like writing blogs, connecting on LinkedIn, and speaking at events, creating events even for myself or others. Now, I feel more present, more creative, and more confident in my business, not in spite of my emotions, but because I trust them.

That doesn’t mean I’m led blindly by feelings. It means I know how to recognise the signals before I spiral. I know when a “should” is trying to run the show. And I know that when I feel resistance, it’s worth listening, not pushing harder.

This practice, of tuning in, naming what’s there, and allowing space, helps me solve problems, show up as a leader, and stay connected to my intuition.

From Reactivity to Response: The Power of Inner Awareness

I’m also a mother. And like many mothers, I snap sometimes. I get overwhelmed. I cry. And when the tears come, I know something is speaking through me, not always sadness, sometimes joy, fear, frustration, or tenderness.

This is why emotional work matters. Not to become “perfectly regulated,” but to stay in relationship with what’s moving through us.

So many women I work with tell me they’re too sensitive, or too emotional, or that people have made them feel irrational for listening to their gut. But I believe the opposite: when you’re not in tune with your emotions, that’s when the overwhelm takes over. The disconnection is what leads to confusion and burnout.

When you create space for emotions, you create space for clarity.

When you embrace the full spectrum, you embrace your power.

And when you stop trying to control your emotions, you finally start leading from your truth.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to fix your emotions. You just have to feel them.

In feeling them, the grief, the rage, the joy, the envy, the softness, you meet yourself. You reconnect with your body. You begin to trust your intuition again. And from there, you create a business, a vision, a life that’s actually aligned with who you are, not who you were told to be.

This is how I’ve shaped my business.

This is how I support the women I coach.

And this is what’s possible when you choose to lead with your full emotional self.

Coming Next: Jealousy, Envy & Emotional Complexity

In the next article, I’ll dive into two emotions that often trigger shame or comparison, jealousy and envy. If you’re a sensitive woman navigating a life shift or starting a new business, you’ve likely felt them. Maybe even confused them. You’re not alone.

These emotions are often misunderstood, but they carry powerful clues about your needs, desires, and direction. We’ll unpack their emotional roots, how to differentiate them, and how to use them as tools to guide your next step, not something to feel guilty for.

Because emotions don’t make you too much, they make you real.

And real is exactly where your power lives.

Avec bienveillance

Cecilia.