Focusing Tip #772 – What’s especially good about feeling good?

“Do I say hello to something in me feeling joy? Read on…

Kim writes:

I’ve been practicing your method of turning toward my anxious feelings with a gentle hello. I said hello to something in me that was feeling anxious about a plane trip, and wow, that brought so much relief. But then I wondered…

What if I’ve got a strong good feeling, like joy? Do I say hello to something in me feeling joy?

Dear Kim:

That’s wonderful that acknowledging your anxious feeling as “something in me,” and saying Hello to it, brought you relief. It’s much easier to make wise choices when we’re not full of anxiety.

And what an interesting question, about how to treat a strong positive feeling like joy!

Positive, enjoyable, expansive feelings work very differently in the body than contractive, stressful feelings.

I want to emphasize that all feelings are good and helpful. We need our emotions because they connect us with what we want and don’t want. They link us to other people. They help us to know ourselves. They give us energy to take necessary action.

But enjoyable and expansive feelings have an additional, special role to play.

Feelings like joy, happiness, inner peace, and love, when felt in the body, can strengthen our ability to be Self-in-Presence.

We are Self-in-Presence when we turn with compassion to sad or scared parts of ourselves, and say to them, “I am here. I am with you now.” In doing this, we are creating inner relationship, and that allows steps of forward living to emerge, even from difficult feelings.

So what I’m saying is that feelings of joy and happiness can increase our ability to be present for more painful feelings. How?

• When you feel joy, there’s no need to call it “something in me.” You can say, “I’m feeling joy.”
• Take your time to really have that enjoyable feeling in your body… as fully as it wants to be.
• Notice if your sense of being “you” feels stronger — I’ll bet it does!

Treated this way, enjoyable feelings are a resource that empowers your ability to be Self-in-Presence, so that all of your feelings have a welcome inside you.