Honor the Fear, Sadness, Confusion and Anger
May 15, 2010 by
Filed under INNER JOURNEY
Learn to honor all of your emotions.
Look for the Openings
Our culture devalues emotions like fear, sadness, confusion, and anger. These emotions are valuable because they are right for you at the moment you are experiencing them. We are often tempted to stuff these emotions down, anesthesize them, dull them and deny them. Why?
The full spectrum of emotions exists because each one has enormous merit. They have the potential to create turning points in your life, to develop your spirit, to elicit seminal moments of clarity for you. I want to encourage you to explore your depths. Get help if you need to. But recognize that these dark emotions present themselves in order to give you valuable information that can forever change your life for the better.
“It is through the pain that the healing begins.”
So very true for me as an incest survivor. The healing didn’t start until I started feeling the pain of the abuse. I stuffed it with food and denial for many years. Learning to love myself and to feel all of my emotions helped me to begin healing. Thanks for the reminder.
Dear Patricia — you are so right! “Learning to love myself and to feel all of my emotions helped me to begin healing” – this is exactly how it begins. Each emotion is a gift to our spirit. Sending many good wishes to you on your continued journey. You are an inspiration to me!!!!
Hi Kendra,
This one can be a challenge for me. Is it because I can feel vulnerable in these moments? Or weak? Or showing too much emotion?
Yet – in those moments when I’ve moved beyond these (in my head) fears – and been fully expressive to the moment – you are so right – there is healing that begins from this. I recently experienced this at a healing service I was doing…listening to others share very challenging moments…and then also seeing that healing process start right there. So, so moving….
Anyway, this is a wonderful message you have shared…thank you.
Hi Lance – thanks for stopping by!
I understand what you mean – it is hard to get started on the healing (which starts with the pain) because we so desperately, often, want to avoid the pain, fear or confusion. But as you’ve witnessed with yourself and others, it is exactly where the healing begins. It is indeed moving even as it is challenging and often heart-rending.
As a child development professional, I also know that all growth must begin with a conflict, some task that has to be overcome, in order for growth and development to occur — no growth occurs without an essential conflict that must be resolved. So, with that thought, I am interested in helping people understand that the “negative emotions” are opportunities to enlightenment and resolution.
Be well – Sending you love and light! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience here.