Emotions are powerful, right?

I mean they affect both your thinking and your actions.

And scientists have proven that negative emotions, like fear, anxiety, and anger are actually releasing different chemicals in your body than the happier emotions of love, contentment and acceptance. So it’s no surprise that there is increasing evidence that repressing powerful negative emotions can eventually lead to a whole host of health problems.

Which means it’s more important than ever to “wear your heart on your sleeve.”

Shakespeare’s Othello first coined this expression in 1604 and it’s since become part of our lexicon to describe the importance of expressing emotions openly and freely.

And to refresh our skill at wearing our heart on our sleeve we just have to observe young children.

Ever notice how they’re already experts at this?

You don’t have to guess what they’re feeling in any moment because they make it very clear when they’re angry, frustrated, delighted or sad. Stomping feet, giggles, tears…they haven’t yet learned to suppress their feelings and shut down their honest reactions to people and events.

Of course, giggling uncontrollably at a board meeting or breaking into tears over lunch with your boss probably won’t put you on the partner track in today’s business environment. But that doesn’t mean it’s healthy to seethe for years over a lossed promotion or mope around for a decade over a love gone wrong.

If you need a little extra help getting in touch with your repressed emotions and channeling them in a healthy way into your world, you can try yoga, journaling, boxing, a good therapist…whatever works for you. As Nike says, just do it.

And to celebrate your new-found commitment to looking inward and doing The Work (which Byron Katie calls her method), treat yourself to today’s VPOD.

This vintage silk blazer by Ungaro has glimmering hearts galore–not just on its sleeve.

And it’s a fine find for an emotional vintage fashionista!

Available at A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage.

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