Feelings are just energies arising within you. They have a message to deliver. They guide an appropriate response to whatever is occurring in the present moment. They are indicators of what you need or what you want in this very moment. But humanity is deeply committed to repressing painful feelings like anger, hurt, sadness, pain, unfulfilled need and fear. This begins in early childhood and continues throughout our lives, until they are liberated.
We finish up with reservoirs of difficult feelings repressed within our body, then when a feeling arises in the moment, which invites an appropriate and immediate response, these feelings from the past come flooding in. We are overwhelmed. The past projects onto the present, preventing a response to what is actually occurring in this moment. Instead, we react based on the past and bring disharmony and conflict into our lives and relationships.
If we are to become truly responsive in the moment, we will have to go through a process of liberating these emotions repressed within us. We will have to empty out these reservoirs of repressed feelings by allowing them to surface into conscious and responsible expression.
You will need a certain level of Presence to awaken in you if you are to come into right relationship in this way. Very gently, remember to be present with something that is here with you in this moment, many times each day. If you can see it, feel it, hear it, taste it or touch it, you can be present with it. When you notice you are in your mind, gently bring yourself present with something that is here in the moment, without effort, struggle or trying. Then Presence will reveal repressed feelings stored in the body and you can begin the gradual process of allowing these feelings to surface and express.
Feelings will arise with a story from the past. It is important that you do not believe in the story, and yet you must allow the story to emerge. It is as though you are playing two parts. On the one hand, you are needy, sad, hurt or angry and you express it fully and authentically. On the other hand, you are fully present with, and allowing of, the feelings as they arise.
You are witnessing the whole event as it emerges from within you, and you know that it does not have anything to do with the present moment. You know that it is simply the past emerging for completion. You are not trying to fix anything or get rid of anything. You are simply correcting the earlier decision that you made as a child to repress difficult feelings. The feelings were just too much then. And now you are restoring those feelings to their right to exist and express.
If you feel angry, what is that feeling of anger telling you? Anger has a message — you are either not getting what you want, or you are getting what you don’t want. What is the appropriate response? Ask for what you want or state clearly what you don’t want. When you respond in this way, anger will dissolve immediately. It will only last a few seconds. After a while, you will recognize that there is no need for anger. Just ask for what you want.
It is the same with the feelings of hurt or sadness. These feelings have the same message as anger: you are not getting what you want, or you are getting what you don’t want. So respond! Express what you want. State what you don’t want. But as an awakening adult, you do so responsibly. Do not dump the feelings on anyone. These feelings need you to be present with them as they surface and express, and to be allowed to arise and express within an environment of love and acceptance.
Do not be afraid of your feelings. If you accept full responsibility for your feelings, they will never lead you to hurt or abuse others. As you liberate repressed feelings from the past, you will be rewarded with feelings that flow freely and guide a conscious life, moment to moment.
