Have you ever felt stuck between two choices — neither of which feel good? One of my clients recently found themselves in a situation like that.

They were in a dynamic where they felt their needs weren’t being honored — and yet, walking away from the situation came at a steep cost. To stay meant overriding their own truth. To leave felt like burning down something important.

They felt angry. Powerless. Trapped.

As we explored the inner conflict together, I offered an image that shifted everything:
“It’s like there’s a wild animal inside of you — and it’s been backed against a cliff’s edge. If you try to go near it, even with kindness, it’s going to do one of two things: attack, or jump.”

And that’s often what happens with our inner world when we feel trapped.

There are parts of us — angry, scared, grieving, ashamed —that we’ve either ignored or tried to control. But trying to suppress it doesn’t make it go away. It just makes it louder.

More desperate!

More reactive!

And so we swing between extremes. Either we push it down and override ourselves completely… or it bursts out in ways that feel messy or destructive.

But what if there’s another way?

After some EFT tapping to settle their body and soothe their nervous system, I asked my client:

What if instead of fighting or wronging this inner animal… you could befriend it?
What if you gave it space, listened, and let it express itself, let it feel without shame?
What if we could meet that animal with curiosity instead of fear?

Instead of controlling or silencing it, what if we said:
“I see you. I know you’re trying to protect me. I want to understand.”

This shift from rejection to relationship is powerful.

Because here's the truth:

Every part of us — even the ones we’ve exiled or been ashamed of — carries intelligence.

Anger, when heard, might reveal the boundaries we haven’t named.

Fear might be trying to protect the tender part of us that once felt abandoned.

Grief might be showing us what we cared about most.

When we judge or exile these parts, they panic.
And when we offer connection — they soften.

When those parts are made wrong or told to quiet down, they don’t get less intense. They get louder. They push harder. Not because they’re bad — but because they’re scared.

They’re fighting for survival. Just like a wild animal would.

Befriending these parts doesn’t mean giving them control of your steering wheel. You don’t have to let your emotions drive the car.

It means giving them a seat in the car. Listening deeply. Offering comfort. And then letting your integrated, adult self — the part of you that can hold nuance and complexity — get back in the driver’s seat.

This is the work of self-connection. It’s not always glamorous. But it is liberating. When your inner world feels held, your wise self naturally returns to the driver’s seat.
That’s where freedom lives.
That’s where new choices emerge.

It’s not about “getting rid of” emotions. It’s about creating enough inner safety that all our emotions feel welcome — not because we want them to take over, but because they finally don’t have to.

When we stop making the angry, scared, or heartbroken parts of us wrong… something softens. Something begins to trust again. New choices open up. Ones that don’t come from panic, but from presence.

So if you find yourself in a place right now where a part of you feels like that wild animal — trapped, reactive, on edge — remind yourself of this:

That part isn’t your enemy. It’s trying to protect something important. And when you bring it compassion and attention, instead of judgment or avoidance, you begin to build an inner alliance. One that allows your full self to return. One that makes room for wisdom, not just reaction.

There’s always another choice. But we can’t access it by force. We access it by connection.

And that starts inside.

If a part of you feels trapped or reactive right now, try this:

Pause.
Listen without judgment.
Ask: What do you need me to understand?

You might be surprised at what opens up.

For my client, I gave them an invitation to deepen their relationship with their inner animal. Later that day, I received a message excitedly sharing that even though the animal was scared and angry, it let them know there was another option.

An option they felt excited about. One that had been invisible when they were at odds with their inner animal. And most importantly one that offered more peace.

→ Want to go deeper?
This is the work I do with clients every day.
If you're ready to befriend the parts you've pushed away, let’s talk.

Book a free discovery call
or
Reply and tell me what part of you feels scared, angry or cornered right now.

Warmly,
Gregg