But what is an emotional pattern? Carolyn L. Mein, DC, author of Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils, suggests that an emotional pattern is a fear-based survival response, which can be identified by analyzing our feelings. These emotional patterns are located within our cellular memory and can impact the way we feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Typically, it’s negative emotions that interfere with our health and wellbeing. That is why it’s important to recognize our emotional patterns and how they make us feel. If an emotional pattern is negative, there are ways to “clear” that emotional pattern and foster positive thinking.

According to Mein, “Changing an emotional pattern takes more than just feeling both sides of the emotion. It takes recognizing and understanding the pattern that triggers the emotion, which is the mental aspect. It takes getting the message or learning the lesson by increasing awareness, which is the spiritual aspect. Changing the automatic conditioned response requires accessing the cellular memory that is stored in the physical body.”

By cleansing emotional patterns, we open ourselves up to changing who we are by experiencing something different. The result causes a person to become more open-minded and willing to explore different aspects of their personality.

To better understand your emotional patterns, create a journal of how you feel in various situations and circumstances. Take note of the occasion and your emotional response. Analyze what might have caused you to feel the way you did. Release the emotional pattern and reanalyze how you feel. Once you understand your emotional patterns and how to find your “way out”, you will be better able to cope with everyday situations that affect the emotional patterns driving your life.

To clear an emotional pattern, Mein has developed the following process for analyzing feelings:

1. Identify the emotion so that it becomes part of your conscious awareness (such as anger).
2. Once the emotion has been identified, try understanding the emotion and thought pattern that created it (what caused the emotion).
3. Look at the “other side”, or positive expression, of the emotion you are feeling (laughter).
4. Discover the “way out”, which is a statement of affirmation that shifts the energy from negative to positive. When you understand the “way out”, it is easier to shift out of an undesirable emotional state (repeat to yourself, “my direction is clear”).
5. Release the pattern from the cellular memory by smelling the corresponding essential oil (see below) and applying it to the alarm points. Activate the oil by placing a drop in the palm of your non-dominant hand. With your other hand, stir the oil clockwise three times. Place on the designated alarm points (you are open to change).

Emotion: Anger
Other Side: Laughter
Way out: My direction is clear
Oil: Purification
Alarm Point: Liver

Emotion: Fear
Other Side: awareness, faith (face it)
Way out: I face the unknown
Oil: Sandalwood
Alarm Point: Third eye

Emotion: Loneliness
Other Side: Connectedness with all that is
Way out: I go to loving space
Oil: White Angelica
Alarm Point: Heart

Emotion: Tired
Other Side: Rejuvenated
Way out: I am renewed
Oil: Humility
Alarm Point: Pancreatic duct

Emotion: Worry
Other Side: Abundance
Way out: I go to the depths
Oil: Abundance
Alarm Point: Esophagus

Emotion: Anxiety
Other Side: Confidence
Way out: Pease, be still
Oil: Joy
Alarm Point: Capillary

Emotion: Depression
Other Side: Alive
Way out: I am glad I am alive
Oil: Peace and Calming
Alarm Point: Depression

Emotion: Disappointment
Other Side: Freedom
Way out: I trust my vision
Oil: Joy
Alarm Point: Bronchial

Emotion: Frustration
Other Side: Accomplishment
Way out: I move beyond my limitations
Oil: Lemon
Alarm Point: Common bile duct

Emotion: Grief
Other Side: Happy
Way out: Change brings growth
Oil: Joy
Alarm Point: Adenoid

Emotion: Guilt
Other Side: Deserve (get what you)
Way out: I learn from all of life’s experiences
Oil: Clarity
Alarm Point: Spleen

Emotion: Moodiness
Other Side: Stable
Way out: I am wanted and lovable
Oil: Peace & Calming
Alarm Point: Hormone

Emotion: Overwhelmed
Other Side: Vision
Way out: I focus my energy
Oil: Envision
Alarm Point: Vision

Emotion: Regret, remorse (self-blame)
Other Side: Fulfilled
Way out: I understand this experience
Oil: Lemon
Alarm Point: Tonsil

Emotion: Sadness
Other Side: Joy
Way out: I see the humor in the situation
Oil: Lemon
Alarm Point: CNS/lymph

Emotion: Stress (physical)
Other Side: Fun
Way out: Life is fun
Oil: Eucalyptus radiata
Alarm Point: Pleura

Emotion: Stress (emotional)
Other Side: Harmony
Way out: I understand
Oil: Clarity
Alarm Point: Brain integration

Emotion: Anger
Other Side: Laughter
Way out: My direction is clear
Oil: Purification
Alarm Point: Liver

Emotion: Anger
Other Side: Laughter
Way out: My direction is clear
Oil: Purification
Alarm Point: Liver

Emotion: Anger
Other Side: Laughter
Way out: My direction is clear
Oil: Purification
Alarm Point: Liver

Note: Reprinted with permission of Young Living, Lehi, UT 84043 USA