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May 19, 2024Imagine the sun shining on your face while you are hiking up a mountain. Finally, you reach the top, and the view takes your breath away. That's awe: a feeling of connection to something bigger than yourself. That is the power of emotions on your spiritual journey.
Some say that spirituality is peace and quiet, which means leaving emotions at the door. However, this is like walking with a blindfold on a hike, missing out on all the great stuff. Good and bad emotions are your tour guides on spiritual adventure.
Here's why:
● Knowing Yourself:
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Think of emotions as little flashing lights in your head. Your work at a soup kitchen may make you happy, content, and fulfilled. This could mean that helping others is a huge part of what you feel your spiritual path is. Feel frustrated in meditation? This can signal that something is not right and something else is happening that requires attention. A study from UCLA, a renowned institution, found that even those who paid attention to their feelings made better choices.So, listening to your emotions is one way to figure out what makes you tick spiritually.
● Feeling for Others:
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Compassion, a cornerstone of many spiritual paths, is not just a sentimental feeling. It's a deep, empathic connection with others, a realization that we are all part of a larger whole. A 2019 study revealed that practitioners of compassion meditation felt significantly more connected with others. So, the next time you witness someone's struggle, don't suppress your empathic response. Let your feelings of compassion fuel your desire to help and connect, fostering a sense of unity and gratitude in your spiritual journey.
● Not All Bad:
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Life is a harsh game, and sometimes you are mad, sad or scared by how it plays out. Good! These feelings, although mostly not very enjoyable, can actually serve as valuable teachers. Feeling down after a loss can give you a new appreciation for life. Anger at injustice, like the kind that fueled Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for civil rights, can be a powerful force for good. The key is accepting the feelings and dealing with them in a healthy way, not shoving them under the rug.
● Feeling the Feels:
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Spiritual experiences can be wonderful—how awe-inspiring a sunset can be, how peaceful prayer may be. And emotions play the biggest role in that! For instance, feeling a sense of wonder at nature's beauty deepens your appreciation for something so much bigger than you. Similarly, feeling grateful for good things in life opens your heart and makes your spiritual journey fulfilling. Just think of the times you have felt an emotional rush of joy or peace in prayer or meditation, and this is the power of the emotions at work.
● Finding Your Tools:
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Just like you wouldn't go on a hike in the wrong shoes, there are tools and practices to help you manage your emotions in your spiritual journey. Many traditions recommend mindfulness, a practice of paying full attention to the present moment without judgment. This way, you hopefully understand your emotions without getting swept away by them. Some people find writing and spending time in nature helpful in processing emotions. These are just a few examples of the many tools and practices available to you.
● It's a Balance:
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Yes! Emotions have their importance, and they are also about finding a balance. Some traditions seem to take it to an excess on the 'detach from everything' policy, which means to detach from material possessions and worldly desires, leaving one numb and disconnected. Of course, letting festering negative emotions help no one. The idea is to find healthy ways of expressing and dealing with the feelings so that they do not become obstacles to your spiritual path. The bottom line? Emotions are natural to being human and a central core to a rich spiritual life. Accepting and working out your emotions—the good and the bad—and learning how to manage them allows you to walk your spiritual path with much clarity, compassion, and joy. It is a journey in which you learn to listen to the whispers of your heart, feel your way closer to the divine, and experience all the wonders that life has to offer.
