Allowing Ourselves to Feel

“Can I Allow this Feeling?”

I notice a constricted feeling in the body, I linger in that sensation for a while. I don’t like it at all, it feels uncomfortable. I’m curious though and want to explore.

Then I remember there’s another option to resistance to what I’m feeling.

“Can I maybe just allow this feeling?”

“Yes” and inner voice answers.

“Am I willing to allow this?”

“Yes”

Without judging it in any way…..

“Can I welcome it? Can I WELCOME it?”

‘yes and YES.”

Instantly it’s almost neutralised. Gone.

By the simple act of acceptance and allowing and welcoming.

I go from being in the disturbed feeling, in the brain’s limbic system, to observing and feeling the emotion at the same time.

As I observe, I activate the executive function part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex. By doing so I occupy the position of kind wise parent to the scared little ones in the limbic system. I’m back in the driving seat.

The ironic thing is that we have to have the initial courage to lean into towards and feel the disturbance fully without thinking about it at all, just experiencing whatever disturbed emotion as it is being felt. Then by listening and not judging it, or ourselves for having it…it dissipates all by itself.