Feelings
noun
an emotional state or reaction

There are feelings labelled as “good” which make us feel “comfortable” such as feeling happy, supported, loved and more.

There are feelings labelled as “bad” such as fear, guilt, confused …which make us feel uncomfortable.

Where do feelings come from?

Think of a beautiful serene sunset on a beach with wonderful music playing.  How do you feel?  Expanded, beautiful and good, right?

Now think of someone crying in agony?   How does it make you feel?  Probably you cringe or feel sad.

The pictures in your mind create corresponding feelings.

Feelings by their very nature are transitory. They come for a moment and then they go. There is nothing permanent about feelings.  Look at your own feelings. They come and they go. Is there anyone on this planet who only has happy feelings?

Separate feelings from YOU

Feelings are feelings. They are not personal. Making them personal leads to suffering.  Once you separate feelings from you it becomes easy for you to steer and make choices. A steering of a car is super useful to steer your way. But you become the steering than who is going to drive?  In truth you are the SIMPLY AWARE OF THE FEELINGS.  You are the awareness. You are not the feeling.   There is no need to run after good feelings.   Good feelings are natural. You don’t run after something you already are.

A Super Hack – Compassion

Simply being aware of the feeling doesn’t help much. But if one has Compassionate Awareness, the mightiest bad feelings simply dissolve.   Notice how compassionate and kind you are others but when it comes to self you get into this hyper critical mode.  Here is a simple way of dissolving the mightiest bad feelings.

One

Next time you are feeling bad, think how you would deal if your most loved one was having the same feeling.

What would you say to this person?

Two

What words of Kindness would you have for this person?

Three

Make a new choice, whether you are feeling good or feeling bad  choose to love and accept yourself irrespective of the feeling.

 “In-spite of me feeling this way I choose to love and accept myself ”    or maybe “I find it difficult to love and accept myself, in-spite of this feeling of non-acceptance I choose to love and accept myself.”

Do it for 5 minutes and see what happens.