A difficult month since the election.
The past month has been difficult for many in the United States. After the election I heard cries of disbelief, mourning, and fear. Where are we headed? How can I change things? What do I do to protect the ones I love? I understand, I have the same feelings.
But the truth is the only thing we can control is ourselves. And it starts by healing yourself, from the inside out. Change in the world begins on the inside with love of self.
Love overflows and pours out into the world.
There is no way to put love into the world if you do not love yourself. Loving yourself is not egotistical navel gazing. It is true, pure loving recognition that you are a beloved creature, worthy of love. You and everyone else in this world, even the ones you fundamentally disagree with, deserve love. Especially those who have made great mistakes. You are worthy. They are worthy. We are all worthy of love because we are created from love.
Love that changes the world starts on the inside and flows out into the world. Real and true love embraces the shadow self, the hurt child inside, and all the rotten, selfish mistakes you’ve ever made. This love does not justify, it does not elevate the self. It simply accepts the whole package and loves it anyway.
I am. Therefore, I feel.
If I ask you, “How are you?” your response is likely to be, “I am fine,” or “I am tired,” or something similar. When we speak this way, we embody our temporary feelings, often subconsciously becoming what we feel. This is a particular problem of English speakers, because we don’t have a verb that distinguishes temporary states from essential being. So, we become what we are feeling by virtue of the verbs we choose.
But how would you answer the question, “How are you feeling?” Most likely, you would respond with “I feel great,” or “I feel a little tired.” When we state what we feel, we recognize that our emotions and feelings are temporary. They are still present, and they are very real, but maybe it’s a little easier to separate from them and recognize they are not us.
A simple exercise.
Sit quietly and take a few deep breaths to relax.
Go inside yourself and ask, “What am I feeling?”
Quickly, without analyzing, write down the things you feel. You may have 5-10 things that you are feeling.
Now look at your list and lightly “rebound” through the list until the feeling that is most present becomes clear.
What shows up as the strongest feeling? Do you view it as positive or negative?
If it is positive for you, can you grow that feeling so it is not overshadowed by your other feelings?
For a “negative” feeling, can you resolve it? Could that feeling sit beside you for now?
This is a wonderful exercise to do when you need to “check-in” for a group or accountability meeting. With a little practice, you may learn to recognize and process emotions productively. You may also find that your primary feelings are positive but are hidden.
Feel loved. Be love.
So It Flows is a space where you learn to feel love, from the inside out, so that you can be Love in the world. Whether you choose Spiritual Direction, Akashic Records, or Shamanism, your journey will lead you to understand your loveable, true Self.
I’d love to hear from you! Keep in touch.
