Emotions and Energy Work

written by: Kosjenka Muk

 

The motivation to write this article came to me through a conversation with a lady who claimed my thesis that emotional problems are the most common cause of energy disturbances as 'completely wrong, unproven and illogical', and said that 'techniques of emotional healing are passè abroad'.

In the same week I read in several books and articles about the idea that emotions and beliefs are just a consequence, instead of the cause, of energy disturbances. I consider the beliefs of many scientists, that emotions are caused by the flow of chemicals through our neurological system, and not the other way around, as being very similar to this. It sounds as irrational to me as the claim that 'the tail wags the dog', because I consider it logical that in the same way we move our muscles through neurological impulses sent through intention, so too works the chemical equivalent of emotions. Still, more and more I notice that many people are inclined to the other idea, which I perceive as a way of avoiding responsibility and confrontation with the difficult, unpleasant and rejected parts of ourselves.

Without the intention of imposing my thought I wish to express my opinion without the expectation that anyone must agree with it without a question. I am conscious of the fact that I do not have all the answers and that my first article ("Being Your Own Authority") , like any of the others, can, in fact needs to, be adapted to everything I write.

I want to share my experience that sometimes only through listening to all our emotions, including the unpleasant ones, can we receive the messages from the deepest parts of ourselves, recognizing sometimes the differing subtle and covered ways in which we neglect ourselves and our needs, sub-ordinate ourselves to the beliefs and actions of other people to the extent that many of us have learned to perceive it as natural and justifiable to allow other people to sub-ordinate our needs. In the same way, unpleasant feelings appear when we act in inappropriate or unjustifiable ways as an unmistakable warning. Learning to recognize sometimes the very subtle ways of abusing and sub-ordinating, either ourselves or other people, is easiest through acknowledging and accepting our emotions.

At the spiritual level, unpleasant emotions are a warning about the areas in which we do not live in harmony with the truth and our true being, or do not listen to our heart's voice about the areas we have to learn a lot about. Without the unpleasant emotions, what else could give us such a quick, obvious and direct reminder?

If we do not listen to our emotions in their regular form, what follows as the next warning is the appearance of disease or any acute situations of crisis. In my experience, the more I learn to listen to all my feelings 'on the spot', even when they are not yet particularly strong, I can learn more from the temperate and happy situations, and I attract less and less acute external situations or deep crises. More and more I am able to listen and learn from emotions that emerge from situations which on average would be considered as normal and healthy. (Still, 'average' does not have to mean 'healthy'!)

Awareness of one's feelings and their acceptance, listening to their messages, are in my opinion the fastest and most powerful way to create a true closeness with as well as self-love. It is the most direct and truthful message to ourselves, and our inner child, that we are acceptable, that we accept ourselves exactly as we are and that we consider our needs and inner messages important.

Explaining emotions as a result of some external, uncontrollable influences and trying to resolve them through external remedies, seems very similar to claiming that we are quite powerless, conditioned beings, controlled primarily through environmental circumstances rather than through our personal power. If I would believe this, I feel this belief would result in loosing my sense of meaning of life and motivation to make an effort in achieving internal change of self.

I like to say that negative emotions do not exist. Emotions should not be separated into positive and negative ones. Instead, I prefer terms 'pleasant' and 'unpleasant' emotions. Unpleasant emotions are as natural, honest and important as the pleasant ones, and should be treated with the same attention and respect to their messages.

Some people think that exploring negative emotions is similar to 'digging up rubbish', and say it is not needed. This is true, if we have heard the message sent through the emotion and truly recognized and learned what had to be learned. In that case, emotions will be cleared out spontaneously anyway. Yet much more often, this statement seems to be supporting an intent to 'get rid of' the unpleasant emotions as fast and easily as possible. Energywise, as much as in any other sense, how can we change anything that we are not in contact with?

On the other hand, I do not support identifying with, nor immersing the self within unpleasant emotions, which is a common reaction of people who are beginners in learning to listen to and explore them. The exaggerated identifying with them is infertile and throws us into the role of a victim, with a tendency to enjoy suffering. I do not recommend searching for unpleasant emotions at any cost, rather to be primarily focused on supporting pleasant emotions and constructive thinking. Still, while keeping a basic positive attitude, it's necessary to be fully aware and open to the messages sent through the unpleasant emotions, and accept them when they appear spontaneously. It is a shortcut, probably more challenging, but also much shorter one, on the road of personal growth.

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© Kosjenka Muk, 2005

Translated by Peter Anthony Ercegovac, 2006