Harness Your Power - What Feelings Are You Avoiding?

I've been reading a new book this week called Women, Food and God.  The key insight I've gained is that often people eat because they want to escape the way they feel.  They turn to food to numb the inner discomfort rather than opening to whatever feelings they have.

Not only do people turn to food, they also turn to drugs.  I have a friend who has said to me on many occasions, "It is easier to get high than to deal with my pain.  My pain is so big that I can't face.  But I hate the way I feel so I have to numb myself with drugs."  Because she is unwilling to deal with her painful growing up years, she is adding even more layers of pain to her life right now because of her drug abuse and the drama that comes along with it.

I write all this as observation, not judgment.  I can see how I have used work or going to the gym in the same way.  Anytime the discomfort inside me called for my attention, I'd head to the gym to get lost in exercise or I'd open my computer and busy myself with assignments.

I'm learning more these days to sit with the uncomfortable feelings I have.  To just open to them and listen to the wisdom they offer me.  The painful emotions are signals that offer me guidance about my life and about myself.  I see that when I observe and engage with these feelings, they don't overwhelm me--they TEACH me and help me to grow.  In fact, a good cry or an intense moment of anger simply passes after I feel it and I come back to peace with a lighter heart.

Perhaps this week you could take some time to notice the ways in which you might be avoiding your feelings.  Do you use alcohol, drugs, food, sex, tv, work or something else to escape the inner discomfort you feel?   What if instead of turning to these addictions you actually sat in silence to listen to what you are being told by the emotion?

You may find more freedom than you have right now if you give this a try.

A fantastic holiday gift for a friend or family member is my new book, Clarify Your Purpose and Live It.  It is a simple, rich, easy-to-read book with exercises to guide you toward a satisfying, purposeful life:

http://www.amazon.com/Clarify-Your-Purpose-Patricia-Omoqui/dp/0982912900/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291896883&sr=1-2

Sending you love this week,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.