Emotional Meltdowns During Change: A Sign of Progress
Change is rarely tidy.
You might be handling it.
You might even be thriving.
But then one small thing - like your TV not connecting to the soundbar - completely unravels you.
That was me the other night.
I stood in my living room, tears running down my face, completely overwhelmed because I couldn’t get the technology to work. And while on the surface it was “just a tech issue,” I knew immediately what was happening:
It wasn’t about the TV.
It was about the emotional healing I’ve been doing.
It was about the identity shift I’ve been moving through.
And my body was finally ready to let something go.
When a Meltdown Isn’t a Meltdown
We’ve all had moments like this - where something seemingly minor cracks us wide open. But these moments are never just about what they seem to be about.
They’re about all the emotion we’ve been quietly holding.
They’re about the weight of subconscious patterns that are no longer serving us.
They’re about our nervous system doing what it was built to do: process, regulate, and heal.
What a “TV Meltdown” Really Means
Let’s reframe the story we tell ourselves about meltdowns.
That emotional wave you feel?
That sudden crying spell that catches you off guard?
That’s not failure.
It’s a sign of nervous system healing.
Your body isn’t breaking down - it’s breaking free.
The Subconscious and the Cry
When we cry during these identity transitions, we’re often releasing more than just frustration.
We’re shedding identities.
We’re releasing long-held beliefs.
We’re honoring emotional triggers as opportunities for growth, not obstacles.
That’s the power of working with the subconscious mind - it stores everything we haven’t yet processed. And when the moment is right (like standing in your living room in front of a stubborn TV), the floodgates open.
That’s not regression. It’s progress.
Crying Is a Tool of Transformation
Here’s what most people don’t realize:
Tears are a biological way to release stress hormones.
So when you cry, your body is doing deep work. It’s:
Processing unspoken fears
Releasing cortisol and adrenaline
Signaling that it’s safe to let go
Reinforcing that your nervous system regulation is working
Clearing space for a new version of you to emerge
This is especially important when you’re navigating a personal development journey or going through a midlife identity crisis - two phases where people often feel emotionally raw, unsure, or disconnected from who they used to be.
Real Transformation Isn’t Linear
We often expect the path to healing to be a straight line. But the truth?
It’s not linear. It’s spiral.
It loops and turns. It doubles back.
Sometimes it feels like we’re going in circles.
But every time we circle back, we come from a higher perspective.
Every emotional breakdown, every tearful release, every “I should be over this by now” moment - these are all part of the healing through tears that helps us step into who we are becoming.
Here’s What to Remember:
Emotional release is progress, not a setback.
Subconscious transformation takes time - and it often comes in waves.
Crying is a tool, not a weakness.
Your identity shift and personal growth are unfolding exactly as they should.
The more you allow, the more you heal.
Let This Be Your Reminder
If you’re in the midst of a big life transition, a career pivot, or an internal reinvention…
And if you find yourself crying over the small stuff…
You’re not falling apart.
You’re falling into alignment.
And that’s something to celebrate.
Want support as you navigate your own personal transformation? Surround yourself with people and tools that understand what’s happening on a deeper level. You don’t have to process it all alone - and you’re certainly not doing it wrong.
Sometimes, the clearest sign of growth is when the soundbar won’t connect, and you cry anyway.
Then you realize… you’re ready for more.