Sometimes it Takes Courage to Sit with Feelings
Many of us have learned to set our feelings aside, thinking we will deal with them later. Yet if we don’t deal with them, we end up storing them in our minds and bodies and this is when anxiety and other health issues can arise.
Denying what we feel can lead to trouble now and/or in the future. Which is why being present and allowing ourselves to surrender to the powerful energies of our feelings, no matter how scary it seems, is really one of the best things we can do for ourselves.
Sadly, one of the reasons we tend to hide or push aside our feelings is that we live in a culture that until recently supported emotional awareness.
However, as the connection between mind and body becomes clearer, the awareness of the importance of feeling our feelings has grown.
There are many books, teachers, and workshops that can help us on our way to emotional wisdom. More importantly, we can also start to trust in our own ability to process what comes up when it comes up.
For example, if shame arises, we can notice its presence and welcome it, noting where in our bodies we feel it, and allowing ourselves to express it through tears or a quiet turning inward.
When we simply allow ourselves to fully feel our feelings as they come, it becomes easier to move on. Basically, our feelings simply want to be felt.
We often complicate the situation by over thinking and analyzing what’s happening, when all we really need is to allow the feelings to flow.
A deeper purpose for our feelings is to transform our inner world, sometimes creating space for additional feelings and information to flow, sometimes providing fuel for personal growth.
The more we can sit with our feelings without judgement, the more likely we are to increase our level of self-acceptance, leading to a deepened feeling of self-compassion.
If you’d like to discuss this or explore any of your values, emotions, and/or feelings, you are welcome to email me at info@SueRelihan.com to set up a free 30 minute conversation or visit my website: www.SueRelihanCares.com.
