“When the teachings tell us to “make friends with our emotions,” they mean to become more attentive and get to know them better. Being ignorant about emotions only makes matters worse; feeling guilty or ashamed of them does the same. Struggling against them is equally non-productive. The only way to dissolve their power is with our wholehearted, intelligent attention. Only then is it possible to stay steady, connect with the underlying energy, and discover their insubstantial nature.”
~ Pema Chodron
Your emotions in and of themselves aren’t bad, my friend. They are messengers. They’re informing you of your beliefs and the programming that’s running your life behind the scenes. Don’t fight or resist them. Let yourself experience them. Just be with them. Honor them. What are they trying to convey to you?
To change them you need to start by acknowledging what you’re feeling. Those feelings are real and they’re triggering an incredible response of chemical and hormonal changes throughout your body. Respect that. Because that, right there, is key to your state of health.
There is a generative thought or instinctual reaction behind each emotion. What is it? What can you learn from it? Are you certain that it’s true? When you honor and listen to your emotions, my friend, you release their charge and set yourself free.