Listen to Your Action Signals!

Have you ever wondered WHY we feel anger, frustration, fear and sadness? Wouldn't life be so much better if we only had positive feelings?

Bob Stahl, my meditation teacher, puts it like this: negative feelings are signals for you to realise that something is not in balance. That there is something that is incongruent to your values or that you need to work on.

Instead of pretending that everything is just fine and ignoring negative feelings, we acknowledge them in our meditation practice. We notice all of the feelings that are coming up, pleasant or unpleasant, then we sit with them and observe how they run their course. Often they are fickle and of very short existence. They come and go like a bad mood. So we let go of them when it's time.

However, some negative feelings are of longer lasting nature and contain a deeper message for us. Then we should pay closer attention and really listen into that feeling. Where does it come from? What does it indicate? When does it occur? But try not to over-analyse! Feelings are rooted much more deeply and get interpreted too fast. So leave aside your opinions and story-lines. Especially anger may actually be rooted in a different emotion, such as a being hurt and longing for acceptance and love. Maybe we are angry because we want to be heard, seen and respected..

Sit with that feeling. Observe it, get into it. Feel it in your body. Maybe you can locate it in your chest, stomach or throat.

It might take us a while to understand where that feeling comes from or what it means. That's part of the process. A strong negative feeling will return to us until we have dealt with it and got its message. Meditation gives us time and space to listen and observe.

So don't try to ignore bad feelings. Like Bob says, "Don't try to be the family dog - always happy and content". Dealing with our feelings means learning, growing and developing wisdom. Be open, don't judge or over-analyse, just be aware and take actions along the way.

Your heart never lies. Your gut feeling never does either.