So what happens if we decide not to fall into the pit of despair? What else could happen? Something will if you give it space. Lets just do something different, for a change then, shall we?
Be conscious of the next wave of emotion that takes you, own it as a special part of you. See it as a unique feeling, so why treat it the same as all the other feelings? Give it some space with no expectations, to be what it is gonna be. Be still, think only of the incident that has triggered the emotion, put the rest to one side for now, by turning off the radio in your mind that’s playing your old worries. Instead lets listen to your stories one at a time, so you can hear all the other noises you are making. Feel the rage wash through you instead of breaking something. Observe how it feels on your skin, write down your darkest thoughts, go inside and feel how this emotion effects your body, is there any sensation? I get a mustard type rush coming out through my eyes and nose just before my tears break free.
Are there any nuggets of information in there, what will it show you? Be brutally honest with your self, is it that bad? Or is it far worse than you ever realised? Crying is good for the soul, don’t let anyone try to stop the tears and if you find someone else crying, encourage them to cry more.
When I experience my emotions fully, they have no reason to linger on for hours or weeks or months any more and most of all I’m optimistic that this emotional wave will pass and it always does if you let it, because it takes a lot of energy to stay in the dark.
Thank you for these writings on emotion, Emma. I find them meaningful and I appreciate your mentioning that suffering can have purpose. Sometimes I find that suffering can be stigmatised in the need to be strong and positive …
You write about experiencing the pain, being honest …
Amen and thank you.
One important issue for me is discriminating unhealthy and healthy suffering. With the latter I am not even sure if the goal should be to move through it …
All of life is suffering in one way or another.
The shift for me involves a movement from self-pity … "only I am suffering or my suffering is mysteriously all important "…
To trying to honestly confront the fact that we belong to a vast community of suffering beings …
It is a shift that will not end the suffering, but will move us to a place of open heart within the suffering, which I think can be very creative.
Again thank you for your valuing suffering, and the importance of being conscious with it and honest with it.
It is refreshing for me to read in a culture that is too often I think just trying to get to peace and light, empowered, positive, whatever
Hi Roger
When you talk about healthy and unhealthy suffering are you referring to the ways we deal with the suffering, i.e. indulging too long in the agony, when the energy has long since past? Or is there another description of unhealthy suffering?
Thank you for your interesting comment
Emma