Why Is Everyone Talking About Emotions?! (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Are you the kind of person who rolls their eyes when you hear a mom say, "You’re having some big emotions," to her toddler?

Or maybe you're the one saying it… and wondering if other people are silently judging you.

Or maybe you're somewhere in the middle—like me.

I’m the mom who tries to be intentional with my words, aware of the powerful impact they have, but also sometimes skeptical of the trends and buzzwords we hear floating around.

And lately, emotions are everywhere.

Today I want to share why I believe it does matter how we talk about emotions, both for our kids' sake, and for the health of their bodies, minds, and souls.

1. Emotions Are Physical, Not Just Mental

If you dive into homeopathy, holistic health, or somatic healing, you'll see a surprising truth:

Emotions are not just feelings—they live in our bodies.

Research shows that suppressed emotions can manifest physically, contributing to:

• Chronic tension and muscle pain (source: The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.)

• Autoimmune issues

• Skin conditions like eczema (source: National Eczema Association)

In classical homeopathy, emotional history plays a major role in treating physical ailments. If we help our kids process emotions in real time rather than stuffing them down, we’re protecting their health long-term.

As someone healing from eczema, I've started wondering—where am I holding onto emotional stress in my body? That question alone has transformed the way I show up for my kids' emotions—and my own.

2. Emotional Literacy = Real-World Success

Teaching our kids to recognize, name, and work through their emotions gives them a powerful life skill.

Studies show that emotional intelligence (EQ) is a stronger predictor of success than IQ in areas like:

• Leadership

• Relationship building

• Conflict resolution

• Long-term career achievement (source: TalentSmart EQ Research)

If my kids can understand what they’re feeling, communicate it effectively, and choose healthy responses... they’ll be lightyears ahead in life.

3. I Don't Want to Raise People-Pleasers

One of my deepest convictions as a mom?

I don’t want to raise kids who live to make everyone else happy.

I want to raise:

• Independent thinkers who know right from wrong

• Courageous souls who choose what’s right even when it’s unpopular

• Children of God who seek His approval, not the world’s

That’s why I'm mindful not to say things like:

• "You’re making Mommy sad if you don’t hug Grandma."

• "Don’t embarrass me."

• "You need to make Mommy proud."

First of all? Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. I’m learning to shift my language to reflect my true heart: encouragement, not performance pressure.

If you ask my toddler for a hug, you’ll notice I won’t force it.

Why? Because I believe forcing a hug teaches:

• Your worth is based on pleasing others

• You don’t get full autonomy over your body

• Adults’ feelings are more important than your instincts

That’s a door I’m not willing to crack open.

A Faith-Based Perspective: Raising Kids Rooted in Truth

Ultimately, I’m trying to teach my kids this:

Pleasing God is more important than pleasing people.

Galatians 1:10 says: "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

When we help our kids honor their emotions and choose their actions based on faith, truth, and love—we're building something eternal.

Final Thoughts

Whether you roll your eyes at the "big emotions" talk or you’re fully embracing it, I hope you’ll walk away with this:

• Emotions are part of our health.

• How we guide our kids through their emotions matters.

• Our goal isn't to raise people-pleasers—but Christ-pleasers.

The way we speak, listen, and model emotional regulation today is shaping their souls for tomorrow.

And it’s worth every awkward pause, every intentional word, every gentle moment of connection.

Sources:

• Van der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

• National Eczema Association, How Stress Can Trigger Eczema Flares (nationaleczema.org)

• TalentSmartEQ, Emotional Intelligence and Success Research (talentsmarteq.com)

• The Bible, Galatians 1:10 (NABRE Translation)