FEELINGS:

~

Why do we struggle so with our feelings? Why do
we work so hard to deny our emotions, especially
concerning other people?

In the course of a day, we may deny we feel
frustrated in reaction to someone who is selling
us a service.

We may deny that we feel frustrated, angry, or
hurt in reaction to a friend.

We may deny feelings of fear, or anger, toward
our children.

We may deny a whole range of feelings toward our
spouse or our significant other.

We may deny feelings provoked by people we work
for, or by people that work for us.

Sometimes the feelings are a direct reaction to
others. Sometimes people trigger something deeper
– an old sadness or frustration.

Regardless of the source of our feelings, they are
still our feelings. We own them. And acceptance is
often all that is necessary to make them go away.

We don't have to let our feelings control our
behavior. We don't have to act on each feeling that
passes through us.

It does help to talk about our feelings with someone
we trust. Sometimes we need to bring our feelings to
the person who is triggering them. That can breed
intimacy and closeness. But the most important person
we need to tell is ourselves. If we allow our feelings
to pass through us, accept them, and release them, we
shall know what to do next.