A quick way to release stress is to cry. While this technique may not be appropriate in all situations, allowing yourself to cry can immediately release a lot built-up stress
These emotional tears contain toxins, the toxins of stress. In Native American traditions, the Medicine Wheel describes the Four Worlds or elements. Some lineages put the emotions and water together in the south of the wheel. Thunder Strikes, a Native American elder/shaman, speaks about giving with our emotions. There is no better way to give these emotions away than to allow our waters, our tears to carry them away. Expressing emotion allows the body, which sits in the west of the Medicine Wheel, to not hold them as tension.
The act of crying, even in private, is an act of courage and surrender. When we cry, we allow ourselves to feel and express what we held. The courage comes from letting go of our mind controlling to allow our emotions to release. When we admit to our feelings by permitting our bodies to express them we are catching up to ourselves, we are getting congruent with our felt sense. In a mindfulness sense, we are now fully present in the moment.
When we let our tears flow in public, we step beyond the social restraints to model courage and emotional honesty. Initially, we do experience more stress at the thought of being vulnerable. Whenever I have done it, I always initially felt more stress. Once I allowed the tears, my stress released. From working with thousands of clients, students and group members over the years, I can say in every case, these people were glad they released their tears and their stress.
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