[Daily OM]: It is one of life's great paradoxes
that the things we don't want to look at in ourselves are the very
things we need to look at in order to know ourselves better and to
become more fully who we are. The feelings that make us want to run away
are buried treasure full of energy and inspiration if we are willing to
look. These feelings come in many forms, from strange images or
snippets of information to recurring dreams and feelings that rise up
seemingly without a reason. Whatever shape they come in, and no matter
how scary they seem, these messengers bring the information we need in
order to grow.
When we are tired of pushing something down, or trying to run away from
it, a good first step is to write down what we think we are avoiding.
Often this turns out to be only the surface of the issue or a symbol of
something else. Expressing ourselves fully on paper is a safe way to
begin exploring the murky territory of the unconscious. The coolness of
the intellect can give us the distance we need to read what we have
written and feel less afraid of it. It helps if we remember that no
matter how dark or negative our thoughts or feelings may be, these are
energies shared by all humanity. We are not alone in the dark, and all
the gurus and teachers we admire had to go through their own unprocessed
emotional territory in order to come out the other side brighter and
wiser. This can give us the courage we need to open the treasure chest
of what we have been avoiding.
Within the parts of ourselves that we don't want to look at, there are
emotions that need to be felt. Unfelt emotions are stuck energy, and
when we leave emotions unprocessed, we deprive ourselves of access to
that energy. When we feel strong enough, we can begin the process of
feeling those emotions, on our own or with guidance from a spiritual
counselor. It is through this work that the buried treasure of energy
and inspiration will pour forth from our hearts, giving us the courage
to look at all the parts of ourselves with insight and compassion.