Listening to Emotions and Welcoming All

In my journey to become an SE Practitioner and now studying the Internal Family Systems modality, one of the pearls of wisdom I have learned is the ability for us to listen within.  Listening is a skill in life that has its challenges, when trying to hear others, as well as, practicing hearing what needs to be heard from ourselves.  I have certainly found this in my own healing journey especially when strong resistance arises, which more often than not, is a big signal to listen in with even more patience and compassion.

It starts with awareness of our self-energy, or seat of consciousness, and inviting in the neutrality of being a witness of your inner world.  It is a reconnection to self, attending and nurturing with compassion what has been trying to get your attention for some time.  A simple checking in with what works for you, to reconnect the lines of communication with your self-energy. The practice of meditating, yoga, walking or being mindfully still without distractions is a start. I like the metaphor of tending your inner garden, allowing the plants that support the whole to be kept and gently weeding out those that do not.

Healing starts with our willingness to practice listening and welcoming the unwelcome emotions with curiosity and compassion.  One must practice locating where these emotions are living in the body and ask the question “what do you need to tell me?”   It is a brave thing to welcome in these emotions, cultivating and being curious about what might need to be tended to.  To quote Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed, “Again and again forever, these things are hard, but we can do hard things because when we do, we finally become alive”.

We can do hard things. In creating that openness and curiosity by allowing ourselves to be aware of and feel our emotions, we can reconnect and heal ourselves, communities and the planet.  You are worth the listen.