Hi Steve
I believe, the ability to wonder as to why we tick the way we do is what opens our mind to many possibilities. You're obviously wonderful.
Personally, I've found ongoing guilt and shame are terrible when it comes to interfering with getting a feel for life. With guilt and shame, they can be incredibly toxic. While we're experiencing such horrible torturous feelings, there is no room to feel anything else.
Myself, I'm a very feeling/sensitive person. May sound strange but if I can't sense the physical emotion that comes with happiness, I try to work out why and what will lead me to feel happiness. If I can't feel energetic, I will try to work out why I'm lacking in energy. Usually, if I'm feeling guilt, sadness, disappointment and so on, I know I'm being challenged to figure out why I'm experiencing these emotions. Once I reach an understanding, I manage what's causing them.
I believe the holistic (whole self) angle is significant. In addressing mind, body and natural self it can give us the bigger picture. Give you an example, regarding anxiety. We can think about what we fear and go on to think of all the things that are attached to that fear (mind). This will send our nervous system into a state of hyperactivity, setting off a lot of other systems including heart/vascular system (body). There goes our blood pressure! But (naturally) what are we experiencing in this moment? Is it really the prompt for a rise to courage, something we have the potential to evolve through? So, if we tell the mind 'There is nothing to fear, what is being experienced is hyperactivity that goes along with a rise to courage', this can change our mind. Mind, body and natural self are highly interactive.
Definitely a challenge, coming to read our 'feelings' or physical energy in motion (aka physical emotion). Why's my energy suddenly super hyperactive or why is it suddenly really low are a couple of handy questions. It's amazing how 'feelings' can act like a compass at times. Recently, my 18yo daughter met up with a group of friends who'd invited along some people my daughter hadn't met before. She told me there was one guy who led to to feel sick for no obvious reason. She just felt sick around him. Sometimes we gotta trust our feelings.
Being female, it's accepted that I'm naturally emotional. I feel so bad for guys, as they're conditioned to suppress feelings. It's so seriously wrong when you're conditioned to suppress those things you need to rely on and trust.
🙂
