During book club a couple of days ago, I had a realization:
[bctt tweet=”Our feelings are not the problem. How we feel about our feelings is what gets us into trouble.”]
Doing the sort of work I often do – untangling emotional energy that’s blocking optimal flow – I may sometimes unwittingly communicate the message that those emotions are “bad.”
Well, of course, they’re not bad. They are the way we feel. Or at least, concerning the “energy tangles” – the way we felt. Sometime in the past.
That emotion was likely meant to be a signal or message from the subconscious to give us direction. I believe these signals have always been with us, and are a part of our survival mechanism. (“This cave smells of bear. YIKES!“)
But because of how we felt about what we were feeling, what happened instead was a creation of resistance around that emotion. This resistance screws with natural energy flow and you get a sort of “back-combing” effect, resulting in a tangled mess.
Which blocks energy flow even more. And now, on a more permanent basis (at least, until the situation is corrected).
When your energy isn’t moving the way it’s supposed to, your state of wellness degrades. Leading to even less optimal flow.
You see how this can become a nasty circle…
It’s not good to block what you’re feeling, and it’s also not good allow that feeling to take control (like wild horses, according to Miguel Ruiz).
Notice the feeling; feel it totally and completely. Allow it to tell you what you need to know.
Then, allow it to go its merry way. [The chemicals of emotion are designed to move through and out of your body in about a minute and a half. Done. Gone. Hasta la vista, baby!]
So these thoughts were percolating in the back of my mind. And with the way the Universal Principle works, it was no surprise when I got an email from my friend Jena from Zurich. Containing the following exercise from Arnold Patient’s book, You Can Have It All
(Jena called it “A way to harvest the power caught up inside any inner storm.” Lovely.)
Close your eyes and scan your body.
Notice what you are feeling.Where is it?
Is it behind your eyes? In your chest? Somewhere else?Then feel the feeling, free of any thoughts you have about it, without judging the feeling as good or bad.
Feel the power of it.
Allow its energy to build and vibrate through your body.Then feel love for the feeling just the way it is and love yourself for feeling the feeling.
The intensity of any feeling is a Power.
YOUR Power.
And you can reclaim your power by simply appreciating that you can feel it.
And so it is!
Photo credit: Niagara Falls by carlos villarreal
Thanks for sharing this piece Sherri. Thanks for the encouragement and empowering practice steps. It takes courage to do it. More importantly, a willingness to letting go. Thanks once again.
To your Abundance, Sandy 🙂
Hi Sandy,
Yes, courage does seem to be the name of the game for me, too.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
A friend of mine shared a similar exercise with me a while ago – very powerful. I still find it difficult to work through on my own and much easier when someone talks me through it.
It’s not good to try to bury emotions (good or bad). They’re a message to us and we need to listen more. Thanks for sharing your exercise 🙂
Agreed on all counts, Jan.
If I may make a suggestion…. Working through it is less problematic if you’re able to just get still for a few moments.
Course, that’s much easier said than done when you’re involved in the busyness of the computer world. 😉
Nice looking site Sherri. Thanks for reminding me to pay attention to my body more often 🙂
Thanks, Joan, and you’re welcome!
Your body IS the vehicle for Spirit. And it’s a LOT more fun when it’s running well.
Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.