Emotionally Speaking: What Does It Feel Like to Be You?

On a recent drive from Sequioa with my husband, James, we heard this question from a Love Does - Bob Goff podcast: "What does it feel like to be YOU?"

This question started dancing around in my head with so many visuals on how a child or an adult answer this question. Some people may not be able to answer this question immediately. It may take deep work. There may be so much pain and trauma manifested from childhood.

If you have a relationship with God, the answer may change to “What Does it Feel Like to Be You …With God in Your Life?”

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

I've spent years studying social psychology and also write and talk about children's books and topics for people of all ages. This question strikes a chord with me because when you ask it of someone, watch it help you better understand and connect with someone in a deep way.

How we deal with life, relationships, and even our faith can stem from our emotions and the reality of the truth.

Truth is found in the Bible.

ALL OVER THE PLACE

I am about to be interviewed on the podcast, All Over the Place! And I want to share this topic on the show with host and producer, Eric Porvaznik.

What does it feel like to be you? (From an orphan who grew up feeling lost and alone).

It feels like standing in the cold after everything I once knew burned away, watching the smoke settle where the idea of home, family, and hope used to be. I’ve tried to find warmth in every family that took me in, but after so many rejections, it feels like the world stopped seeing me—like I’ve faded into the background, no longer someone’s child, just a number lost in a system that forgets. The weight of abandonment is heavy, and the hope that once flickered inside me is starting to fade. It’s not just the loss of my mom at age 5, which brings fresh wounds every year; it’s the gradual loss of belief that I truly belong anywhere.

What does it feel like to be you? (From someone struggling with addiction).

It felt like drowning in plain sight, hiding my struggle behind a mask. Alcohol became both my escape and my prison, numbing the pain even as it tightened its grip on my life. I longed to stop, but each drink pulled me deeper, the guilt and shame too heavy to bear. I hoped someone would see my pain, but the darkness crept in silently.

In the end, what did it feel like to be me? Like I was drowning while the world watched, powerless, as the waves swallowed me whole.

What does it feel like to be me?  From a mom, wife, and grandmother:

 • I feel loved, grateful, closeness, misunderstood, blessed, distant, & pulled in many directions.

 • I feel deeply loved by God, blessed with all He has given me, and grateful that He remains by my side through life’s challenges. 

• I feel a strong closeness to Jesus. 

• I feel loved by my children, though sometimes I feel misunderstood.

 • I feel incredibly blessed to have three wonderful grandchildren and cherish every moment I spend with them. 

• I feel a sense of distance from some loved ones, as technology and the fast pace of life seem to create interruptions. 

• I feel pulled in many directions by family and friends, always wanting to help everyone.F

What does it feel like to be me? From a mom, sister and grandmother:

• The word opposites comes up. Not in an antagonistic way or in a contradictory way. On any given day, I can feel the paradox of deep sorrow in some areas of my life. At the same time, I can feel such deep joy when I stop in the middle of the twirling chaos to reflect on grace and gratitude and God’s provision in the center of it all. 

• I can feel overwhelming anxiety about the task in front of me, yet there’s a little girl inside me who is full of courage and pushing me towards opportunities I would otherwise miss. 

• I can feel so insecure when I walk into a room, take a deep breath, and struggle through it, knowing that my insecurities don’t define me but keep me from connecting with others. I reach a little deeper into my spirit self and reach for Grace and Joy to accompany me. 

• I can feel so excited to spend time with family, yet exhausted. 

• I can feel so much hopeful anticipation for tomorrow yet struggle with fear. The place that grounds me these days is practicing spiritual disciplines of prayer and community and Sabbath… where all these parts of me can sit and rest and be just enough to reset and start another week.

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Understanding Emotions

Our emotional intelligence, shaped by experiences from childhood through adulthood, plays a crucial role in how we navigate life as adults. Learning to understand and manage our emotions significantly influences our growth.

Emotions like joy, sadness, anger, and peace aren’t just reactions to what happens around us—they're also tools for personal growth, helping us face life's challenges. From a Christian perspective, these emotions not only reflect our inner state but also guide us toward a deeper understanding of our relationship with God.

Scripture: Emotions as a Pathway to God’s Love

The Bible is filled with expressions of emotion—joy, sorrow, anger, and peace. In the Psalms, David was unafraid to pour out his feelings before God, showing us that our emotions are not a barrier to faith but a pathway to deeper intimacy with Him.

Romans 12:15 says: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." This verse encourages us to embrace our own emotions and those of others. Emotions help us form genuine, Christ-centered connections with the people around us.

I also find comfort in the fact that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and His perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18), guiding us to emotional and spiritual comfort and hope.

Connecting Emotions with Christian Identity

Asking, "What does it feel like to be you?" is about recognizing that feelings are part of how God created us to experience the world—and that He meets us in our emotions.

One of the greatest gifts I’ve learned through working with children is that emotions are often the first language of the heart.

Children are naturally open to expressing their feelings, and through that expression, they often encounter God’s love in pure and profound ways. I believe we adults can learn from this—by being honest about how we feel and seeking God in those feelings, we can uncover a deeper sense of peace and identity in Him.

In 1 John 4:18, we are reminded that "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear." This verse is a powerful reminder that even when our emotions feel overwhelming, God’s love is strong enough to guide us through them.

Feel Your Emotions, Find God’s Presence

As I share these reflections on the podcast, I want to encourage listeners of all ages to embrace their emotions—whatever they may be. By understanding how we feel and why we feel it, we can grow closer to God and to others. Whether we are celebrating, grieving, or simply navigating the everyday challenges of life, God meets us in those moments.

In this way, "What does it feel like to be you?" becomes not just a question for self-awareness, but a profound way to encounter God’s love and grace in every emotion we experience.

Scriptures, such as Philippians 4:6, Romans 12:15, Psalm 34:18, and 1 John 4:18, provided strong spiritual anchors for this blog.

A key scripture that speaks to being childlike is Matthew 18:3, where Jesus says:

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3, NIV) As this verse says, it's important to have a humble, accepting, and open-hearted attitude, like a child. Jesus tells us to come to God with the trust and simplicity of a child, without any pride or need to be in charge. Being spiritually and emotionally childlike means trusting God's love and direction and being willing to learn and grow.
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Topics: Emotional and spiritual identity, social emotional learning, Christian podcast, Bible, child-like faith

Christian speaker and author, Lisa Caprelli