Can we still feel for a moment?

A friend recently told me that she was having a hard time and wanted to get rid of those feelings as soon as possible. And I recognize that. Our society teaches us to suppress emotions. We have to be strong, we have to be happy. Sadness, pain, fear? Push it away, swallow it. But if you don’t acknowledge your feelings and don’t communicate about them honestly—not even with others, but especially with yourself—it will go wrong sooner or later.

Openness and honesty with yourself is important.

It’s okay to show your real emotions. It’s okay to feel less for a moment. Because if you keep suppressing everything, it will eventually find its way out—and then it will blow up in your face.

And I know all about it.

A pill for everything

What if I told you that almost 1 in 8 Belgians takes a pill every day to suppress anxiety and/or dark thoughts? That almost 1 in 5 uses sleeping pills, which are not only addictive, but your body builds up a tolerance to after just two weeks? Which makes quitting a long and difficult road?

What does that say about our society?

We want a lot, we want everything, and above all: it has to go fast. But in our desperate attempt to keep up with that pace, we become exhausted. We run, chase, push ourselves further and further, until our body protests. And when that happens, we often get the same message: take this pill and move on.

According to science, you should have recovered from a burnout after nine months. But how is that possible, if you have been pushing yourself beyond your limits for years? How can a body recover in such a short time from something it has had to endure for years? Something is seriously wrong.

A Slave to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Today, we trust the pharmaceutical industry more than we trust our own bodies. There is a pill for everything...

You have a headache? Take a pill.

You have diarrhea? Take a pill.

You feel down? Take a pill.

But what if that headache is simply a signal that you have not drunk enough water? What if your diarrhea is caused by stress or the wrong diet? What if your sadness is an invitation to change something in your life?

I am not a doctor, and I am not saying that medication is never useful. Medical science has achieved great things. But I believe that we are too quick to reach for medication, without investigating the cause.

When I do not feel well, I do not take medication. I observe my body. Why do I have a headache? Why do I have diarrhea? Why do I feel so tired? Often there is a logical reason: my diet was not optimal, I did not spend enough time outside, or I pushed myself too hard. By giving my body space, these ailments usually resolve themselves within 24 hours.

My body tells me everything, as long as I am prepared to listen and act accordingly.

Medication as a solution?

Doctors prescribe these drugs en masse. When I was going through a difficult period myself years ago and went to my GP, I was almost immediately prescribed antidepressants. I still remember that moment well. I felt exhausted, lost, I didn't know how to continue. But when the doctor wrote that prescription, I intuitively felt: this is not my path.

I knew that antidepressants would flatten my feelings. That they might take away the sharp edges of suffering, but also the peaks of joy. And it is precisely those peaks that give energy, give life. I didn't want to numb, I wanted to understand.

Moreover, I saw what these drugs did to others. Sleep medication and antidepressants come with a whole list of side effects. From nausea, dizziness and weight fluctuations to emotional numbness and even suicidal thoughts. And perhaps the most worrying thing: when you stop taking them, your body can react violently.

Your brain has become accustomed to the chemical balance that the medication created, and without that pill your system can go haywire. Insomnia, anxiety, depression—many people who try to taper off find that they feel worse than ever. Not because they are “sick,” but because their bodies have become dependent.

The power of real connection

In addition to the physical exhaustion that many experience, there is another deep-rooted problem in our society: loneliness.

We live in a time where almost everything happens online. Courses are given digitally, sports lessons are followed from the living room, conversations take place via screens instead of in real life. We scroll for hours on social media, looking for connection, but often feel lonely in the end.

We have become addicted to technology, but are losing the real connection with each other. While that is exactly what we all long for: connection.

There is nothing as powerful as being together. Exercising together, walking together, relaxing together, breathing together, meditating together, etc... Because it is precisely in those moments that something arises that no online experience can replace: real presence.

When was the last time you were really together with someone? Not via a screen, but just, together?

Food as medicine

In addition to mental and social disconnection, there is another major problem in our society: the way we deal with food.

We rely on pills to make us better, but what if we looked at what we put on our plates every day? Today, 70% of what we can buy in supermarkets consists of processed and ultra-processed foods, and only 30% of real, pure products like fruits and vegetables.

In addition, sugar is everywhere. It is not only in sweets and soft drinks, but also in so-called ‘healthy’ products like breakfast cereals, yoghurt and even vitamins. Sugar is a stealthy killer. It causes peaks and troughs in your energy, makes you dependent and disrupts your body on a deeper level.

I do not eat according to fixed schedules. Not three, four or five times a day, but when my body asks for it. After 4 pm I usually do not eat anymore, because I have noticed that my sleep improves then. My sleep is sacred. If I go to sleep with a full stomach, my body spends the whole night digesting instead of recovering and resting. Since I changed my eating pattern, I sleep deeply and wake up refreshed, full of energy.

However, I don’t always eat perfectly. Sometimes I feel like having a piece of chocolate or pizza, and then I just eat it. But I always ask myself the question: why do I crave sugar now? What is happening inside me? I observe how my body reacts. I don’t punish myself, but I am aware.

Food is a powerful medicine, but only if we listen to our bodies instead of blindly following what the industry presents us.

Self-care: a daily choice

True healing starts with self-care. Not as a luxury, but as a basis.

For me that means:

• Going to the sauna to relax and help my body detox.

• At least two hours of yoga, breathwork and meditation every day.

• Writing down my emotions in a journal.

• Spending as much time as possible outside in nature.

• Making time for friends and family.

• Dancing freely, without inhibitions, being completely in the moment.

• Singing, something I have rediscovered in recent years and that brings me so much joy.

• Letting my creativity flow through painting, crafting, and making music.

Creation is essential for the soul. When we create, we let our energy flow freely. We break away from thinking and connect with something greater. We feel alive.

Doing what makes your soul happy

For years, I lived according to expectations. I worked hard, climbed the ladder, but deep inside I felt something was missing. My body gave me signals, but I ignored them. Until I realized: I wasn’t really living.

Now I follow my heart. I give sound sessions, breathing sessions, and meditation sessions—not only because it’s good for me, but also for those around me. When I do what makes my soul happy, that joy radiates to others.

It’s a simple truth: when we do things that are good for us and those around us, we naturally feel fulfilled. Joy doesn’t come from possessions, status, or external validation. Joy comes when we live in alignment with who we truly are.

And know: this too shall pass. Both the beautiful and the less beautiful moments. That is the flow of life. Everything is temporary, everything changes. But that is precisely what gives freedom.

Do you dare to choose what makes your soul shine?

Take the time to feel

We live in a world that teaches us to numb ourselves. But what if we did the opposite? What if we really felt?

What if we listened to our bodies, instead of suppressing them? What if we gave ourselves time to heal, instead of trying to keep functioning at all costs?

No one knows your body better than you. The greatest expert on your health is you.

And don't forget, every person is different. Every person has their own solution.

But to do that, you have to be willing to stop. To observe. To feel.

Maybe this is an invitation for you to stop for a moment. What is your body telling you? What would happen if you really listened for a day – or a week?

Because if we no longer feel, are we still alive?

So, can we still feel for a moment?