Have you ever considered what ‘being professional’ means to you?

I’ve noticed that when I feel the expectation to be ‘professional,’ it often translates into detachment—from my emotions, my body, my own experience. In work and school environments, to fit the mould of ‘professional,’ we are often conditioned to suppress or disconnect from emotions like anger, joy, or grief. For example, institutions often expect that after losing a loved one, you’ll be ready to return to work within an extremely short period (in the UK, as little as three to five days of bereavement leave; in the US, often none at all). You’re expected to act ‘professional’ while your body and mind are grieving.

But what we call 'professional' is itself a social construct—one that upholds whiteness. In Western societies, professionalism is often associated with placing the ‘thinking mind’ above the feeling body, valuing competition over collaboration, rigidity over compassion, and productivity over rest. These values shape not only how we work but also how we relate to ourselves and each other.

Who is allowed to express emotions—who is given space to feel—is deeply shaped by race, gender, heteronormative norms, and ableism. Some of us are policed more than others. Racially minoritised people, women, and those at the intersections of oppression—think of how Black women’s emotions, particularly anger, are often weaponised against them—are scrutinised when they express feelings. At the same time, those in dominant groups are also harmed by these norms: men, for example, are often actively discouraged from showing vulnerability.

And yet, in the midst of multiple crises, our ability to be present with our emotions is more important than ever. But reconnecting with feelings can be really difficult, especially when we’ve been conditioned to suppress them.

One place to start is simply noticing sensations in the body—the warmth of the sun on your skin, the tension in your shoulders, the flutter in your stomach. Another place could be asking yourself: how do I know I’m feeling joy, anxiety, or fear? What bodily sensations are my clues?

Reclaiming our feelings isn’t just about personal well-being. It also allows us to reconnect with others and build deeper solidarity. When we make space for our own emotions, we become more equipped to witness and honour the feelings of others—and isn’t that at the heart of collective liberation?