Feel Everything Often

Good morning…

Returning to our collective wisdom, I pulled out my page of notes from our therapeutic community group at PAWkids on Tuesday morning. These words strengthened me for unexpectedly hard moments ahead.

• We can’t selectively feel our emotions. We can’t choose the “good” ones without dealing with the “bad” ones. Our feelings are all intertwined.
• I don’t like feeling… lonely, angry, confused, depressed. I do like feeling… hopeful, amazed, peaceful, bonded.
• Might we expand our capacity to feel everything? Feel everything as often as possible.
• Grow in awareness. Part of me feels ……… and part of me feels ………. and part of me feels ……..
• One friend said, “My grandmother used to say, ‘This too shall pass.’” The “good” emotions pass, which can leave us feeling sad, down, nostalgic and the “bad” feelings pass, which can leave us feeling relieved, hopeful, calm.
• In overwhelming moments, slow down. Let it be. Let the strong emotion pass like a rain storm.
• Calm can be on the other side of the storm.
• Another friend recalled a poster she once saw: “Life is slippery. Here, take my hand.”

I came away from our intimate, interactive time with a new question to ponder.

Moment by moment, will I courageously feel everything with God? Or will I feel none of the vibrant harmonies living in, around, and among us?

People were wired by God to feel all or to feel nothing. If we can’t selectively feel only our favorite emotions, I recommitted to feel everything with God, as often as possible, by day and by night. How grateful I was for our meaningful morning together.

By evening’s end, I extended my own listening hand through the phone to reach a dear friend caught up in the treacherous slippery-ness of life.

God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears… Never hide your feelings from him (Psalm 34:4-5, MSG).

…Sue…