We consider what it means to feel emotionally balanced and look inward – and outward – to discover the answer.  

The Heart of Emotional Balance

Emotions can be difficult to manage, especially for creatives and those sensitive to heightened sensations. Emotional balance happens when we allow emotions to arise but don’t let them overtake our minds and bodies while we experience acceptance and non-judgment. 

With the highly energetic state of the world, this can be a hard balance to accomplish. Stress often leads to overwhelming emotions, leading to quick, heated reactions. However, if we’re able to curate a toolbox of internal and external support, we may start to look at emotions more like the changing tide or passing clouds. 

When we cultivate emotional balance, we can respond to situations with intention. This offers up opportunities led by intentional choices, making it much easier for you to consciously manifest the highly-inspired life you want to live. 

Additionally, emotional balance encourages harmony in the body, which reduces harmful stressors that may promote long-term health complications.  

Turning to Herbalism for Emotional Balance

To achieve emotional balance, the physical, mental, and spiritual body must be aligned. 

When the body and mind are overworked, emotional imbalance can take over – leading to further unrest and habitual patterns. Due to societal influence, we are often encouraged to work harder and disregard cues from our bodies that recommend we rest. These patterns manifest as stress in the body – stress on organs, various processes, and the mind. When the body and mind feel stressed, we are less likely to be in control of our emotions. 

Herbs are an incredibly supportive way to nourish numerous systems, like the nervous system and stress response, so we can find physical balance and, in turn, emotional balance.

Nervines

Nervines are a class of herbs that work with the nervous system to soothe frazzled and overworked nerves. Some nervine herbs are known to act as a tonic by strengthening the tissue for better adaptability, while others impart the power of calm, restoring harmony and releasing tension in the body. 

Weaving nervines into your routine may ease the body and support you in learning how to regulate emotions and make intentional emotional decisions. Some of our favorite nervines include: 

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) 
• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) 
• Milky oat tops/oat straw (Avena sativa) 
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)  

You can find a variety of nervine herbs in our Make & Mary Empress Tea. 

Adaptogens

As the name suggests, adaptogens help us better adapt to stressful situations by encouraging a balanced stress response. Any amount of stress can lead to intense elevations and drops in energy. Adaptogens regulate energy levels by supporting the stress response, moderating the release of cortisol (the stress hormone) so our bodies don’t linger too long in a heightened stress state. 

Some of our go-to adaptogens include: 

• Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
• Holy basil (also known as “tulsi”) (Ocimum tenuiflorum) 
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) 
• Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) 

Methods for Encouraging Emotional Balance

When considering how to encourage emotional balance, we usually reach for herbs that flow with the season. As we near the end of summer, we’re met with the intense glow of these fading hot months. With the heat still present, we feel called to cooling herbs like lemon balm, rhodiola, and chamomile to balance emotions and raise our vibrations.

Introducing herbs into your routine may look like having an herbal tea before bed or keeping flower essences on your desk.

Recently, we’ve found joyful solace in the Make & Mary Mush Love Elixir. The adaptogenic nature of reishi and maca creates harmony, while damiana acts as a tonic for low energy. This blend helps us to release occasional stress and create space in the mind, lifting the veil on our deepest desires, which rest beneath our reactive emotions.  

Some additional methods for supporting emotional balance include:

• Creating personal boundaries 
• Having a stable support system of friends, family, and community 
• Scheduling time for self-care and meditation 

Setting personal boundaries signals to your body and mind that you’re prioritizing your needs, potentially eliminating the stress of putting someone or something else first. For instance, if you feel a certain situation causes emotional imbalance, creating personal boundaries encourages change around the situation. That may look like removing yourself altogether so you aren’t emotionally triggered or being involved minimally so you can work on responding to the situation with intention – not reactivity.  

If setting boundaries is something you struggle with, we highly recommend taking some time to enjoy Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Tawwab. 

A steady self-care routine and support system work similarly. It voices care and love toward yourself, which encourages greater holistic health. When we feel a sense of overall well-being, the influence of stress decreases, and our capacity to manage emotions increases. 

Harmony With the Seasons 

As we draw closer to the Fall Equinox, the theme of balance lingers in the air. We are reminded that everything in nature, including us, needs balance to fully thrive. And while emotional balance can be supported by many external tools, it’s often the internal effort that guides us to deep inner wisdom and harmony. 

If you’re interested in other ways to encourage the power of calm, check out the following posts: 

The Tranquil Power of the Vagus Nerve

Sensuality & Ways to Indulge in Sensual Self-Care

Highly inspired by ceramic artists: @naturaceramica