Our Unpleasant Emotions

Good morning…

“Our normal response to unpleasant emotions is to do whatever we can to push them out of our awareness,” says the David Benner quote we read aloud in class. “Something quite remarkable happens when, instead of following this well-worn path, we welcome them as a guest in the home of our self.”

Of course, this insight led me to share one of my favorite poems.

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The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

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Scripture teaches a very similar truth in James 1:2-5 (PHILLIPS).

When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives . . . don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become (people) of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem (you have) only to ask God—who gives generously to all – without making them feel foolish or guilty—and (you) may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given.

Might we learn not to resent unpleasant emotions as intruders, but, instead, to welcome every one of our feelings as friends?

As we honestly process all of our mixed emotions with God, necessary wisdom will be given. Through faith, endurance, and independence from the well-worn path, necessary wisdom will be bless our home.

…Sue…