How to Navigate Your Emotions Like Waves (Using the Wave Rider Method)

Jan 24

Life’s emotions are just like ocean waves—calm and peaceful one moment, then wild and overwhelming the next. For a long time, I didn’t know how to handle those wild, overwhelming emotions. Maybe you can relate—society often teaches us to hide these feelings, to bury them deep and move on as if they don’t exist.

But the more you learn about wellness and emotions, the more you understand how deeply connected they are. When you suppress heavy emotions, they don’t just disappear—they linger in your energy field. Over time, they start to influence how you feel, how you think and even how your body operates. This energetic weight can lead to what we call "dis-ease" in the body.

That’s why it’s so important to learn how to work with emotions in a healthy way. Emotions are not meant to be feared. In fact, they’re one of the most profound parts of being human. They help us navigate our reality, show us where we stand and guide us toward what needs attention.

Think of emotions as energy in motion. When you embrace them, you can begin to ride life’s waves with greater ease. Let me show you how to navigate these emotions like waves using the Wave Rider Method.

Navigate Your Emotions Like Waves

Emotions are a lot like the ocean—they ebb and flow, sometimes calm and serene, other times wild and overwhelming. The key is not to resist them but to work with them. When you allow emotions to flow naturally, they lose their intensity and can teach valuable lessons.

Using the Wave Rider Method, you can navigate your emotions with ease and grace. Here’s a simple framework from my Wave Rider Self-Healing Map to help you ride the waves of emotion:

1. Observe: Notice the Wave Without Judgment

When an emotion arises, the first step is to simply observe it. Imagine watching a wave form in the ocean—there’s no judgment, only curiosity.

How to do it: Take a deep breath and ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” Name the emotion if you can (e.g., frustration, joy, sadness).
Why it works: Observing without judgment creates space between you and the emotion. It allows you to stay grounded rather than being swept away by it.

2. Feel: Let Yourself Experience the Wave Fully

Once you’ve observed the emotion, it’s time to feel it. This can be the hardest part, but it’s also the most transformative. Emotions need to be felt to move through you.

How to do it: Close your eyes and tune into where the emotion sits in your body. Is it a tightness in your chest? A heaviness in your stomach? Breathe into that space and let the sensation flow naturally.
Why it works: Suppressing emotions only traps them in your energy field, leading to imbalance. Feeling them fully helps them dissipate, just like a wave that eventually breaks and returns to the sea.

3. Release: Let the Wave Pass Naturally

No wave lasts forever, and neither does any emotion. The final step is to let it go, trusting that this wave has served its purpose.

How to do it: Visualize the emotion dissolving into the vast, calming ocean. Imagine the tension in your body softening with each breath, leaving you lighter and more at peace.
Why it works: Releasing emotions clears your energy and prevents them from lingering, allowing you to feel balanced and aligned.

A Simple Visualization Tip

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, picture your emotions as waves. See them rise, crest, and fall, returning to the ocean’s depths. Remind yourself: This too shall pass.

Ride Life’s Waves with Ease

By practicing this simple process of observing, feeling, and releasing, you’ll learn to navigate emotions like a true wave rider. Remember, emotions aren’t something to fear—they’re a natural part of the human experience, here to guide and teach you.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your emotional wellness journey, download my free Wave Rider Self-Healing Map for more tools and inspiration. Together, let’s create a flow that supports your best self.

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Stacy Stehle is an Ocean Energy Alignment Coach & Founder of Ocean Energy Wellness.

She helps you find calm, balance and renewed energy through holistic practices inspired by the ocean. Together, we’ll explore the supportive power of crystals, essential oils and ocean wisdom to reconnect with your inner peace and build lasting resilience.

🌊 Join The Wave Rider’s Journal to receive guidance, rituals, and tools designed to nurture your wellness journey. Dive in and flow toward a life of balance and renewed energy.