PRESENT WITH THE NEGATIVE
“Negative” feelings are part of the human experience. There’s no plainer or profound way to put that. To deny the negative feelings is to resist the power of our presence—we miss out on LIFE. Pushing away the darkness can be a precursor to numbing out and all kinds of addiction. We have to lean in, embrace it, even.
And, we often learn through contrast. That’s part of living in a dualistic reality. Restriction can lead to freedom. Shame can lead to pride. Weakness can lead to integrity. Again, lean in.
This is an exercise to examine your willingness to experience the more difficult feelings that life will inevitably bring. It’s a bit of “roll with it” training.
Important note: a “negative” feeling doesn’t have to be regarded as a “bad” or weakening experience. Anger can be creative, sorrow can bring us closer to Spirit. But for these purposes, “negative” feelings are what most of us would relate to as heavy, uncomfortable, painful and/or unpleasant.
We’re also aiming to understand why some feelings are easier or more difficult to experience than others. This way, when a negative feeling arises, you can see its associations and make a clearer choice to return to encouraging thoughts and your Core Desired Feelings.
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Negative feelings that I can experience with openness and intention. (i.e. Sadness, doubt, confusion, anger)…
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Why I’m able to experience those negative feelings with openness and intention…
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Negative feelings that I can be comfortable experiencing. (i.e. fear, uncertainty, overwhelm, melancholy, jealousy)…
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Why I’m able to be comfortable experiencing those negative feelings…
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Negative feelings that I have been extremely difficult for me to experience (they are CDF blockers). (i.e. Shame, anxiety, depression, apathy, unworthiness)…
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Why those negative feelings were extremely difficult for me to experience…
All Love,
Danielle
Danielle LaPorte is an invited member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, a group who, in Oprah Winfrey’s words, “is uniquely connecting the world together with a spiritual energy that matters.” She is author of White Hot Truth: Clarity for keeping it real on your spiritual path—from one seeker to another. The Fire Starter Sessions, and The Desire Map: A Guide To Creating Goals With Soul—the book that has been translated into 8 languages, evolved into a yearly day planner system, a top 10 iTunes app, and an international workshop program with licensed facilitators in 15 countries. Named one of the “Top 100 Websites for Women” by Forbes, millions of visitors go to DanielleLaPorte.com every month for her daily #Truthbombs and what’s been called “the best place online for kickass spirituality.” A speaker, a poet, a painter, and a former business strategist and Washington-DC think tank exec, Entrepreneur Magazine calls Danielle, “equal parts poet and entrepreneurial badass…edgy, contrarian…loving and inspired.” Her charities of choice are Eve Ensler’s VDay: a global movement to end violence against women and girls, and charity: water, setting out to bring safe drinking water to everyone in the world. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her favourite philosopher, her son. You can find her @daniellelaporte and just about everywhere on social media.
