EMOTIONAL RECOVERY

Life is full of changes.

Some of those changes we classify as “good” like getting a new puppy, the birth of a child, falling in love, getting married or winning a competition.  Some of those changes are “bad” like losing the puppy, the death of a loved one, a breakup, a divorce or losing a competition we desperately wanted to win.

So, what determines the positive or negative experience of each of these circumstances?  We all experience both positive and negative emotions, but what determines whether we have a positive or negative experience?

Allow me to introduce a concept you may not have considered in the past about the negative or positive experience of any felt emotion.  The concept is this:  where is the emotional power in that felt emotion?  Is it internal or external?

Let me give you an example.

Where is the emotional power in the emotion of greed?  If we experience greed over money, a car, a home, where are we placing the POWER of that emotion?  I’m not asking where we feel it, I’m asking:  Is the POWER of that felt emotion internal or external to US?

If you close your eyes and think about it, the answer becomes clear:  the power of this felt emotion is external.  We are investing our emotional power in something EXTERNAL to US.  Now, ask yourself another question:  does it feel like a positive or a negative emotion?  Negative, right?

Play the same game with any negative emotion like lust, gluttony, anger, hatred, jealousy or disgust.  If you close your eyes and imagine where the power of that emotion lies, you will see that the power is external to YOU.

Now try imagining the sensation of joy.  Where is the power of JOY?  Is it external or internal?  Again, not where are we feeling it, but where is the power of the emotion, internal or external to US?  Internal, right?

This, my friends, was a revolutionary concept to me.  Understanding the difference between positive and negative emotion was determined by where the POWER of that felt emotion was invested.  More importantly, it was only one of two places:  internal to me or external to me.

More important than that, I came to learn that I was the one to determine where I placed that power based on how I perceived the situation or event.  Where I placed the power determined whether I was experiencing positive or negative emotions.  The choice was MINE.

I came to learn that in every situation, I had a CHOICE to determine where I was putting the emotional power and subsequently whether I felt good or bad about any given situation.

The concept is simple but eluded me for years because I have come to realize that I had a program running in my head about how I was going to feel about things and that program frequently defaulted to me placing the power in many felt emotions EXTERNAL to me.

When I decided I didn’t like how I felt about any given situation, I learned that the lowest rung on the ladder of positive emotions is acceptance.  Once I realized that even though I didn’t like the situation I was facing, my life changed in an instant when I realized that I could CHOOSE to ACCEPT things exactly as they are.

That choice allowed me to instantly move the power of any felt emotion INTERNALLY and shift the emotional energy in my direction.  That simple shift then created enough emotional momentum to allow me to see additional ways to shift the emotional energy internally such as appreciating things as they have been, appreciating them as they are, embracing the opportunity to learn and grow and using my imagination to see how a new situation might be even better than the previous circumstance.

That may sound a little too “Polyanna” for some, particularly if your internal emotional program frequently places emotional power outside of you.  For me, it has certainly felt a lot better when change happens in my life to move the emotional power internally by accepting things AS THEY ARE.

Take a moment and consider accepting things exactly as they are.  Feel where the emotional power is in that choice.  You will feel it move inside and experience a positive shift.

Never underestimate the power of moving felt emotions internally using the power of acceptance.  Sometimes it’s the first step that makes all the difference.

If you’d like to experience the shift that occurs with acceptance, I put together a quick course called The Power of Acceptance that you can find under my services!

-Doc

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new health-related practice or program.