You’ve probably heard the advice: “Feel your emotions.” But what does that actually mean in everyday life? Especially when so many of us believe we’re feeling our feelings when we’re actually thinking our feelings. And thus, not feeling better or resolving our stubborn bad habits.

In this episode, Mary Tilson joins me to explore how we’ve each learned to stay with and move through our emotions.

Mary also opens up about her journey with addiction and anorexia, offering an honest look at how activation, dysregulation, and stress show up in our bodies and minds.

We discuss:

• Being with our feelings instead of “rising above” them
• Practicing mindful awareness with the R.A.I.N. acronym
• Simple (but effective!) ways to resource yourself
• Addiction as an adaptation
• The realities of recovery and finding joy every day
• The science of awe and the healing powers of nature

More about our guest: Mary Tilson is a Certified Professional Recovery Coach and Somatic Practitioner with a Master’s Degree in the Psychology & Neuroscience of Mental Health. She draws on a holistic background, which includes Somatic Experiencing, a body-based approach to healing trauma and stress-related disorders and over a decade of experience as a Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher. Having experienced drug and alcohol addiction firsthand, Mary's approach to coaching is rooted in compassion and understanding. She has been sober for over 12 years and is passionate about helping others build fulfilling lives substance-free. She supports clients through 1:1 Coaching and Retreats.

Connect with Mary:

• Visit her website at sunandmoonsoberliving.com
• Follow her on IG: @marytilson @sunandmoon.soberliving
• Listen to her Podcast: The Sun & Moon Sober Living Podcast
• Join her 2026 Women's Recovery Retreat: sunandmoonsoberliving.com/banff

Send me (Ali) a text message.