Emotion and Vibration: The Science of Feeling Happy[ish]

Raise your vibe: The neuroscience of emotion and vibration

Ever heard someone say, “Raise your vibration” and immediately rolled your eyes so hard you nearly threw your back out?

You’re not alone. The phrase can sound suspiciously like the sort of thing said by someone trying to sell you crystals that ‘align your chakras’ while also repelling negative energy and door-to-door salespeople.

But what if crystals were a ‘thing’?

And what if ‘vibration’ wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns but something science-y—like your emotional state?

Emotional state: Your inner tuning fork

Your emotional state is essentially how you feel in the moment—happy, grumpy, calm, or ready to throw your laptop out of the window, then dash outside and stomp on it!

Neuroscience tells us that these emotional states aren’t just ‘in your head’; they’re also in your body, wiring up your brain and nervous system like the world’s squishiest circuit board. This connection between emotion and vibration is at the core of how we function.

When you’re feeling fabulous, your brain produces feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These not only make you feel sensational but also influence how your body works—from your heartbeat to your digestion.

On the flip side, when you’re stressed or angry, your body pumps out cortisol and adrenalin, which might be useful if you’re running from a reptilian extraterrestrial, but not when you’re just trying to navigate the queue at your local supermarket.

“I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.” ~ Jennifer Yane

And, of course you can be somewhere in the middle—kind of happy-ish. Maybe content, accepting, or curious.

So what’s all this about vibration?

Now, in the woo-woo world (where I live part-time!), ‘vibration’ often gets tossed around as if we’re all tuning forks wandering the Earth.

And, in a way, we kind of are. Except, instead of vibrating at mystical frequencies, our emotions are deeply tied to measurable physiological patterns—things like heart rate variability, brainwave activity, and even the electromagnetic field generated by your heart.

This field can extend up to 1 metre (about 3 feet) away from your body in all directions. The heart’s electromagnetic field is important for two key reasons: it communicates internally within your body and externally with others.

The interplay between emotion and vibration is scientifically measurable and impactful.

Internally, the electromagnetic signals from your heart influence your brain and body

Positive, coherent signals enhance brain function, improve decision-making, and regulate stress. In contrast, negative or erratic signals (from stress or negative emotions) create dissonance, affecting your body’s balance and overall well-being.

Externally, your heart’s field can impact those around you

During close interactions, such as conversations or touch, your electromagnetic field can influence another’s emotional state, because your individual electromagnetic fields will be overlapping each other.

This phenomenon, called emotional resonance, explains why hanging out with calm, positive people feels like sipping a warm mug of hot chocolate, while spending time with stressed or negative individuals is more like being force-fed cold, lumpy, soup in a thunderstorm— or having all the energy sucked out of you!

By regulating and taking control of your emotional state, you not only benefit yourself but also create a positive ripple effect on those around you.

This is where science and spirituality meet

Your emotional state directly affects these physical patterns. Positive emotions like joy, gratitude, or love create harmony in your heart rhythms (a state called ‘coherence‘), which feels great and signals to your brain, ‘All systems go.’

Negative emotions, on the other hand, create chaotic rhythms that leave your brain and body feeling frazzled. It’s like trying to drive while juggling chainsaws.

Pro tip: Don’t.

This connection between emotion and vibration is not just a fluffy idea—it’s backed by measurable changes in how our brain and body function.

Your emotional state is your vibration

Think of your emotional state as a frequency—a bit like the signal your Wi-Fi gives off. When you’re in a good place emotionally, your signal is strong, clear, and ready to download (or manifest) all the good things in life.

When you’re in a funk, your brain’s running on dial-up (remember that?), your motivation is stuck in airplane mode, and you’re accidentally binge-watching an existential crisis.

You can consciously shift this signal—you have the power! You don’t have to sit around waiting for life to improve. By changing your emotional state, you can effectively raise your vibration—and here’s how.

How to change the channel (a.k.a. to raise your emotion and vibration)

Want some practical strategies to consciously shift your emotional state and raise your vibration? Of course you do! These simple steps can make a big difference in how you feel and function.

1. Get grateful:

This isn’t just about writing a thank-you card to your aunty. Neuroscientists have found that gratitude practices actually rewire your brain, making positive emotions easier to access. Think of it as installing a shortcut to your happy place.

You can always find something to be grateful for: it can be small things like that first coffee of the day, or bigger blessings like having a roof over your head. And remember, it’s the feeling of gratitude that matters most—not just reciting a checklist.

Take a moment to really feel something grateful for.

2. Take a breath… or five:

Slow, deliberate breathing can work wonders. (Find out how) By doing this, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which sends your body a simple message: “Chill out, put your feet up and have a cuppa, you’re not starring in a zombie apocalypse movie.”

This calms your nervous system, improves heart coherence, and restores balance to your emotional state.
 Even moving to a window and breathing deeply while looking outside for a few moments can create a shift. It’s a quick and accessible tool to interrupt the stress spiral.

3. Visualise the Good Stuff:

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between something vividly imagined and something real (which explains why you’re sweating just thinking about that awkward conversation from 2007).

By visualising positive outcomes, you prime your brain—more specifically, your Reticular Activating System (RAS)—to spot opportunities and align your actions as if those outcomes are already happening. It’s like setting your brain’s GPS for success.

4. Laugh (At Yourself, Preferably):

Laughter might not cure everything, but it’s probably the only medicine that makes your abs hurt in the best way possible. It shifts your perspective, lightens your mood, and boosts those feel-good brain chemicals faster than a toddler chasing an ice cream van.

So go ahead, laugh at life—and at yourself. It’s a simple way to nudge your emotional state into a higher vibration.

Example: The office email spiral of doom

Let’s imagine Jane, an office manager, starts her day in a good mood. She’s had her morning coffee, her inbox looks manageable, and she’s ready to demolish her tasks.

Then it happens: she gets that email. You know the one—passive-aggressive, filled with vague criticisms, and CC’d to her boss for good measure.

Jane’s reaction is instant. Her heart rate spikes, her stomach clenches, and her brain floods with cortisol and adrenalin. Before she knows it, she’s mentally rehearsing every possible snide response.

Her emotional state plummets into frustration, anger, and self-doubt, dragging her vibration right along with it.

Instead of letting the email derail her entire day, Jane can consciously shift her emotional state by:

1. Move from her desk, towards a window or just go for a quick walk, focusing on…
2. Pausing and breathing: Taking five slow, deep breaths to reset her nervous system.
3. Reframing: Choosing to interpret the email as an opportunity to showcase her professionalism and her emotional intelligence.
4. Visualising a positive outcome: Imagining her day running smoothly and confidently addressing the email.
5. Getting Grateful: Reflecting on three things she appreciates about her job, like her supportive colleagues or her recent achievements.
6. Taking composed action: Drafting a calm, constructive reply and, if needed, getting a second opinion before sending it.

By using these strategies, Jane restores balance, lifts her mood, and handles the situation effectively. Her emotional state—and vibration—are back on track.

It’s science, not sorcery

The beauty of this whole vibration thing is that it’s grounded in how your body and brain actually work. You’re not conjuring magic; you’re just learning to work with your biology instead of against it.

Think of it as hacking your internal operating system so you can run smoother, faster, and with fewer error messages. It shifts your perspective, lightens your mood, and boosts those feel-good brain chemicals faster than a toddler chasing an ice cream van.

For insights on the importance of fun and laughter, read Fun and Laughter: The Secret to Thriving in Turbulent Times

So, next time someone tells you to “Raise your vibe,” don’t roll your eyes. Instead, take a deep breath, crack a joke, and watch how your emotional state—your vibration—shifts.

No crystals required. Although they’re always lovely to have around.

P.S. Scientifically, crystals have measurable properties—such as their ability to generate electrical charges (piezoelectricity) and their highly ordered molecular structure.

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Tags: Interpersonal skills, Managing mood and emotions, Self-awareness, Self-talk, Spirituality, work and career