We interpret unpleasant feelings as “bad”, but this is our judgment. It is not Truth. Unpleasant feelings are part of being human, and they require energy to manage. Over time, the constant managing of these fluctuations can wear us down. The more readily we embrace them - breathe into, acknowledge, and allow them to come and go as needed - the sooner they dissolve. Welcoming the uglier feelings does not mean wallowing in them, or sinking into a deep pit until the best option becomes denial or medication! It means seeing them as a part of being human, separate from the eternal aspect of us. We merely acknowledge our shadow side until the more beautiful Truth takes its place and we return to an equilibrium encompassing freedom and joy.

The question next arises: what happens if we take the same approach to the “good” feelings?