Unlocking Emotion: How to Get In Touch With What You're Feeling

What is emotion, and how is it possible to access it?

Think of a difficult moment in your life- or a very joyful one. Give a name to what you felt in that moment. Fear? Joy? Shame? Relief?

In every situation, there’s what went through your mind (thought), and what you felt inside (emotion).

For example, imagine standing in front of a pack of hungry lionesses. You might think, “This is the end,” and simultaneously feel intense fear.

Emotion = Motion

In English, the word emotion comes from the word motion- movement. Emotions move us and stir us to action.

Even in Hebrew, there may be a hint of this. The word רגש (emotion) is close to גש which implies approaching or moving. In Psalms, it says “למה רגשו גוים” - “Why did the nations stir up?” (Ibn Ezra interprets רגשו as a kind of movement or gathering.)

The power of emotion lies in its ability to move us.

What If You Feel Emotionally Numb?

If you feel a kind of emotional “block,” there are ways to soften it. Like in a video I once shared, you can try this simple practice:

Practice Presence.
Start paying attention to the present moment with your senses.

• Walking barefoot? Focus on the coldness of the floor against your skin.

• Washing your hands? Listen to the sound of the water and feel its temperature and flow.

• Walking down the street? Pause. Notice the sounds around you and focus on just one of them.

Name Your Emotion.
The next time a strong thought- positive or negative- crosses your mind, pause and ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” Try to put a name to the emotion and rate its intensity.

Doing this daily, even for just a few minutes, can begin to break through emotional numbness and help you reconnect to what’s going on inside.

The ability to feel isn’t something you lack. You simply need to slow down, notice it, and give it a name.