If Panic is My Teacher, Then Patience is the Lesson
Have you ever been hit with a wave of panic — the racing heartbeat, the tension in your chest, the thoughts that spiral faster and faster? Our natural instinct is often to push it away or react from it. But what if panic wasn’t something to “get rid of,” but a teacher trying to guide you?
Emotions Are Messengers
Our emotions are not random. They’re the body’s language — the way your nervous system and subconscious mind try to communicate with you. Panic isn’t here to punish you; it’s here to highlight an area that’s calling for growth.
Instead of asking:
“Why is this happening to me?”
Try asking:
“If this feeling is my teacher, what is the lesson?”
Emotions vs. Feelings — Why It Matters
The words “feelings” and “emotions” are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same:
Feelings are the raw sensations you experience in your body — tightness in your throat, heaviness in your chest, butterflies in your stomach.
Emotions are the meaning and energy we attach to those sensations — anger, joy, fear, excitement.
Understanding this distinction can help you pause and observe your internal experience without immediately reacting.
Turning Emotions Into Lessons
When you start looking at your emotions this way, everything shifts. Here are a few examples:
If panic is my teacher → patience is the lesson.
If anger is my teacher → boundaries are the lesson.
If jealousy is my teacher → self-worth is the lesson.
Step One: Name the Emotion
You can’t work with a teacher you haven’t identified. That’s where the Emotions Wheel becomes a powerful tool — it helps you move past vague words like “bad” or “stressed” and get to the root emotion.
Once you name it, you can ask yourself:
What triggered this?
What is this emotion here to teach me?
How can I regulate before I react?
Regulation Before Reaction
Healing isn’t about avoiding uncomfortable emotions. It’s about:
Understanding them.
Receiving their lesson.
Regulating your nervous system so you can respond intentionally.
When we lash out, yell, or pass our pain to others, we’re stepping away from the lesson — not toward it.
Your Shortcut to Spiritual Growth
Next time you feel overwhelmed, pause and ask:
“If this emotion is my teacher, what is the lesson?”
You’ll be amazed at how this simple question turns triggers into teachers and chaos into clarity.
📸 Want to try this right now?
You can find the full Emotions Wheel on my Instagram @WellnessByJeri or by viewing the image in this blog post. Use it to identify your emotion, discover the lesson, and start the regulation process today.
See below for a list to get you started.
Fear
If anxious were my teacher, then breath would be the lesson.
If skeptical were my teacher, then curiosity would be the lesson.
If overwhelmed were my teacher, then stillness would be the lesson.
If tension were my teacher, then softening would be the lesson.
If paranoid were my teacher, then trust would be the lesson.
If confused were my teacher, then patience would be the lesson.
Anger
If frustrated were my teacher, then surrender would be the lesson.
If aggravated were my teacher, then grounding would be the lesson.
If disgust were my teacher, then compassion would be the lesson.
If aggressive were my teacher, then restraint would be the lesson.
If hostile were my teacher, then empathy would be the lesson.
If irritated were my teacher, then perspective would be the lesson.
Strong
If important were my teacher, then humility would be the lesson.
If determined were my teacher, then flexibility would be the lesson.
If empowered were my teacher, then service would be the lesson.
If successful were my teacher, then gratitude would be the lesson.
If intelligent were my teacher, then listening would be the lesson.
If confident were my teacher, then openness would be the lesson.
Happy
If satisfied were my teacher, then contentment would be the lesson.
If amused were my teacher, then play would be the lesson.
If enthusiastic were my teacher, then balance would be the lesson.
If pleasure were my teacher, then presence would be the lesson.
If excited were my teacher, then pacing would be the lesson.
If passionate were my teacher, then devotion would be the lesson.
Calm
If peaceful were my teacher, then acceptance would be the lesson.
If relaxed were my teacher, then trust would be the lesson.
If sentimental were my teacher, then honoring would be the lesson.
If content were my teacher, then gratitude would be the lesson.
If optimistic were my teacher, then resilience would be the lesson.
If accepting were my teacher, then unity would be the lesson.
Sad
If hopeless were my teacher, then faith would be the lesson.
If betrayed were my teacher, then self-trust would be the lesson.
If isolated were my teacher, then connection would be the lesson.
If ashamed were my teacher, then self-forgiveness would be the lesson.
If rejected were my teacher, then self-worth would be the lesson.
If neglected were my teacher, then self-care would be the lesson.
💫 Ready to turn your emotional triggers into tools for growth?
I offer virtual energy healing sessions where we work together to help you identify, understand, and regulate your emotional patterns so you can feel balanced and clear.
📅 Book your appointment today — click the link in my bio and choose the time that works best for you.
With love,
Jeri
