Feeling Emotions

Only in the last few months have I learned about emotions. I mean, really learned about them. I knew the names of a few and what they looked like on a person's face. Honestly though, that was about the end of it. I mostly felt fear and anger, and then guilt for feeling those. I had no idea how to get my emotions out except maybe writing about them, but even that felt off, like I was wallowing in the negative ones and not getting it right.

I finally figured out through research that emotions are natural signs that help us stay in tune with our intuition. This is really important! Once one's intuition gets stifled, all sorts of havoc breaks out within the mind and body. It's like driving blind and it feels frightening.

I know now that when I feel an emotion tap on my shoulder, I need to take a moment to sit still with it, give it its proper name, and move into it more deeply. Sometimes that can feel like diving into a cold pool of water but that is better than trying to feel it piece by piece over a long period of time. By going in to it deeper and taking deep breaths the whole time, I've noticed I am less apprehensive each time that emotion comes up. When I feel like I've really let myself feel it, I then take some deep breathes and let it slowly dissipate, it's kind of a conscious thing, where I'm letting it go. Then I remind myself that it's just a feeling and they are never wrong. If it doesn't feel too forced, I'll even smile. Feeling emotions this way reminds me of meditation, sitting quietly and letting the emotion flow through without judgement.

I've noticed that it's much easier for me to feel all of my emotions now. They will come up more quickly, and easily. I used to pride myself on not being a crier. But we all know where pride gets us. Now I can cry easily and I know it's due to this practice of emotional letting. I'm happy that I can feel things again.

I've noticed too that I'm sometimes reluctant to feel pleasant emotions. I don't know why I would do this but I do know that I'm going to give them the same respect I've given to the emotions that stem from fear, like anger, or anxiety. Emotions that come from love may have been belittled by me as not dangerous, and therefore, not important. But they are important, and I want to allow myself the gentleness of feeling them. I have the right to feel good and so do you.

I'll let you know how my progress goes with that.

A few starting points:

Awareness App for the iPhone
http://ronitherzfeld.com/awareness-app/

Dr. Anita Johnston and Eating in the Light of the Moon
http://dranitajohnston.com/

Emotions - How to Understand, Identify, and Release Your Emotions
http://www.mkprojects.com/fa_emotions.html