Leaning Into Tension
What Tension Is Really Trying to Tell Us
2 Things Tuesday
We’re wired to run from tension.
Headache? Grab a Tylenol.
Stress? Scroll it away.
There’s always an external fix within reach, a quick patch to get us past the discomfort. But tension isn’t just something to avoid, it’s often the messenger we need most.
What if the thing you’ve been avoiding is the very thing that could set you free?
Tension is what turns coal into diamonds. It’s what stretches a blank page into a story, or a canvas into art. It’s what signals growth in the body after a workout.
In my own life, a health scare, forced me to slow down and pay attention, this became the catalyst for deeper care. Not another supplement, not another bandaid fix, but a real shift from the inside out.
What I’m proposing is a different kind of response:
Instead of running from tension, pause. Look inward. Ask with compassion: What do I really need right now?
That question changes everything.
2 Things To Do Today
Thing 1: Breath Practice – 4-7-8 Breathing
Inhale gently through your nose for 4 seconds.
Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds.
Repeat for 4 rounds.
Why this works: The long exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system, easing stored tension and signaling safety to the body.
Thing 2: Kind Action – Ask Inward, Not Outward
When you feel tension today, resist the urge to reach for an outside fix first.
Instead, pause for one moment and ask yourself: What do I really need right now?
It might be water, rest, a walk, a breath, or even just a moment of honesty.
Mantra: Tension is a teacher, not the enemy.
Let’s talk:
What’s one way you usually run from tension? And what might change if you met it with curiosity instead? Drop your thoughts in the comments, you never know who your reflection might help today.
Such a good reminder to be curious about all emotions.
When I feel overwhelmed and tense I try to get something done off my to do list.
Good morning! An update. My stepmother passed away yesterday at 98, and this was not unexpected. Your Substack this week was perfect. I looked inward and what I needed was to follow my normal activities while being present with the feelings of gratitude and loss. So that’s what I did. I baked for my husband, I made healthy meals, I did my stretching, I watched a favorite movie and cried at the end, then journaled and did some 4-7-8 breathing before I went to sleep. Still processing this and communicating with the family, and I’m ok. Thank you so much.