The body doesn’t just store experiences—it responds to them. When our emotions are not validated, we might experience:

• Tension headaches or migraines due to stress and frustration.
• Tightness in the chest or shallow breathing, a physical manifestation of anxiety and emotional suppression.
• Fatigue or insomnia, as the mind and body struggle to process unresolved emotions.
• Digestive issues, since stress can disrupt the gut-brain connection.

Many people unknowingly carry emotional pain in their muscles—shoulders, jaw, neck, and back. Over time, these physical symptoms can become chronic if emotions continue to be ignored.

The Spirit: A Dimmed Inner Light

Our spirit is the core of who we are—our essence, energy, and source of joy. When our emotions are dismissed repeatedly, it can feel like a slow erosion of the soul. You may experience:

• A loss of connection to yourself – You start to suppress your true feelings, making it harder to understand your own needs and desires.
• A weakened sense of self-worth – You begin to believe that your emotions are too much, not valid, or unimportant.
• Spiritual exhaustion – When you aren’t emotionally supported, your energy feels depleted, and life can seem meaningless.

A lack of emotional validation can make us feel disconnected from others, from ourselves, and even from God. It dims the spark within, making life feel heavier.

Healing begins with self-validation. Even if others don’t acknowledge your emotions, you can.

Here are three relaxation techniques to help ease your mind, body, and spirit:

1. Deep Breathing & Body Scanning

When emotions feel overwhelming, your breath can be an anchor. Try this:

• Sit in a quiet place and close your eyes.
• Take a deep breath in through your nose for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth for six seconds.
• As you breathe, mentally scan your body from head to toe. Where do you feel tension? Acknowledge it, and consciously release it.

This practice helps regulate your nervous system, bringing a sense of calm and grounding.

2. Journaling Your Truth

When others dismiss your feelings, writing can be a powerful way to validate yourself. Try this:

• Write down what happened and how it made you feel.
• Instead of judging your emotions, simply acknowledge them: I feel hurt because I wasn’t heard. That’s a valid reaction.
• End your entry with a self-affirming statement: My emotions matter, even if others don’t understand them.

Writing releases built-up energy and helps process unspoken feelings.

3. Practice Affirmations

Affirmations are powerful tools for rewiring the way we think and feel about ourselves. Here are some affirmations to remind yourself of your worth, even when others fail to validate you:

🌿 My feelings are real, valid, and worthy of expression.
🌿 I do not need permission to feel what I feel.
🌿 I trust myself to honor my emotions with love and compassion.
🌿 I release the need for external validation; I am enough as I am.
🌿 I am deeply connected to my truth, and that is more than enough.

Repeating these affirmations daily can help rebuild self-trust and emotional strength. 

Not having your feelings validated can be painful, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t real. Your emotions are a natural part of you, and they deserve space, respect, and acknowledgment—if not from others, then from yourself.

But imagine if someone said… “I see You Sis?”

To feel seen and heard is to experience the warmth of true understanding—the kind that doesn’t require explanation or justification. It’s the moment when someone acknowledges your emotions without trying to fix or dismiss them, when your pain, your joy, your struggles, and your triumphs are recognized as real and valid. It means existing in your full truth without fear of being minimized or overlooked. It’s the comfort of knowing that your voice carries weight, that your story matters, and that you don’t have to fight for a place at the table.

And that’s why I want you to know, I see You, Sis! Your emotions are valid. Your voice matters. And above all, you matter.

I see the strength you carry even on the days when you feel like you're barely holding it together. I see the way you show up, even when the world makes you feel small. I see the quiet battles you fight, the tears you wipe away when no one is looking, the love you pour into others even when you’re running on empty.

I see the dreams you hold close to your heart, the resilience that keeps you going, and the unspoken prayers you whisper in the dark. You are not invisible. You are not forgotten. You are worthy of being heard, of being valued, of being loved just as you are.

No matter who has overlooked you, dismissed you, or failed to honor your feelings, please know this—I see you, sis. And you are enough.

Dr. Taunya M. Tinsley