Most human problems are created by our inability to properly feel and express our feelings.
Example: addiction. An addiction from my point of view is a way of distracting yourself from yourself. So, instead of feeling your feelings you're: eating, drinking, working, sexing, drugging, being violent, etc.
Addicts from my experience and point of view are not just homeless bums on the street looking for drugs and alcohol. Addicts are people who run from their feelings and suppress them in unhealthy ways. I'm not a psychotherapist or doctor. This is a definition I've come to through my own experience with addiction.
Another way to think of it is this: an addiction is an unhealthy habit that takes you further away from your Soul and the presence of The Uni-verse in your life.
My life's aim has been to, one day at a time, replace unhealthy addictions for healthy habits. I've found the root of my success has been my ability to feel and express my feelings in constructive ways.
Now, most of the time, when I feel a negative feeling, an impulse to consume, chase or fill up a void inside me, instead of going outward, I go within. I stop, focus on my breath and let my feelings come up. Then I write them down, or get creative and write a poem, draw or exercise. I just channel the energy differently.
And what happens is that instead of keeping them down and needing to cover them up (my favorite way to cover up my emotions is with sugar), I have space and distance from my emotions. Day by day I begin to understand the negative thoughts, beliefs and emotions that trigger my "addictions" and instead of letting them rule my life, I see them just as thoughts.
Then, the more distance I get from these thoughts, the greater my ability is to choose a new thought and new action that is healthy, constructive and going towards making my dreams come true.
In today's download, I'm not suggesting that you buy some brand new product, surrender your life to the teachings of a great master, or require that you declare yourself a member of any religion. Today, all I ask is that you get brave enough to get quiet, meditate on your breath and FEEL your feelings. Then, once they come up, embrace them and give them expression in the written word. Don't judge or think about your feelings, just let them flow. Once they are out and on paper you will have a different relationship with them - one where you are a little more in control than you were a moment before.
There is nothing fancy about this exercise, it just takes a little courage to peek beneath to surface and see what's there. And remember, as Joseph Campbell says, "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek."
Much love,
Mastin
GUEST
DAILY
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