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Repression of Negative Feelings
Le Cafe :: The Secrets :: Spirituality
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Repression of Negative Feelings
This is the summary of a very important article on the repression of feelings. As many misinterpret Abraham's and others' teachings about the primacy of feeling positive and therefore, consciously or unconsciously, repress their negative feelings, it has become necessary to emphasize that the LOA cannot be ever utilized this way, and that repressing our negative feelings is rather destructive psychologically speaking. Whether suppressed [not indulged] or repressed [denied existence altogether], our feelings remain intact and energized; they continue to influence us while they push for expression. Although suppression can cause tension and conflict, repression can cause even more damage—particularly because our unawareness of it means that we have less ability to recognize the ways in which it is affecting us and harming us.
Here follow the negative aspects of emotional repression, briefly explained still with adequate examples:
1. Our perceptions are distorted. While the repressed material is in the shadow, it projects onto people and situations. For example, fear which has been repressed and then projected will color our perceptions of the world as a frightening place. Because we are not perceiving accurately, we acquire incorrect information from our surroundings, and thus we respond inappropriately; we react fearfully to situations which are not truly dangerous. Repression distorts not only our observations in this moment, but also our memories of the past and our expectations for the future.
2. Repressed material is not available for our use. Every thought and emotion has a potential purpose—perhaps offering new perspectives, and some vitality, and a broader understanding of our wholeness (as we realize that we have the capacity for such a thought or emotion). When we repress, we are refusing these gifts. For example, if we deny our fear, we are not able to use the energy that is associated with it, nor can we have a full perspective on the dangers which are triggering the fear.
3. Repression prevents us from understanding ourselves. For example, if we examine our "selfishness" (instead of pretending that it doesn't exist), we might find the reasons for our behavior; perhaps we will realize that it is actually a reasonable response to people who are abusing our tendency toward generosity. And, in another example, if we analyze a thought of violence toward an offending person, we can learn much about our ego, our boundaries, our needs, our viewpoints, our projections, and other aspects of ourselves.
4. Repressed material remains unresolved. If we don't even admit that an emotion or thought exists, we can't take action toward a solution. For example, if we disavow our capacity for selfishness, we won't look for the reason why it occurs, nor will we recognize the ways in which it is wrecking our friendships, and we won't seek ways to maintain our dignity and boundaries while also being loving and generous enough to support those friendships.
5. Repressed emotions become difficult to express in a constructive manner. During their period of repression, they degenerate into primitive forms. For example, repressed anger can become resentment or bitterness.
6. Repression causes physical distress. The repressed energy is lodged in the body, where it might be experienced as physical tension, physical numbness, lack of vitality, the physical (and psychological) symptoms of depression, diminished body awareness, and eventually illness. Massage therapists and other bodyworkers know that when their treatments release physical stress, the clients often feel an upsurge of emotions—the emotions that have been locked into those tissues.
7. Repression consumes energy. The effort to keep material in the unconscious mind is like the effort to keep a buoyant object underwater; we are using energy to hold back the energy of the repressed elements. When repressed material is released, we might experience a feeling of lightness and freedom—and power, because the energy from the material and from our effort to repress it is now available for a constructive use.
8. Repression causes emotional numbness. We repress by intellectually denying the reality of the emotion, and by desensitizing ourselves to our awareness of the movement and pressure of the emotional energy within us. The extent to which we repress one emotion or sensation is the extent to which we repress all emotions or sensations. For example, when we refuse to feel fear and anger, we also lose our capacity to feel happiness and pleasure.
9. The repressed material does not develop. For instance, if we repress our anger, we do not learn how to express it properly, because we are denying ourselves the opportunities to practice the various ways in which the dynamics of anger can be used in an effective, civilized manner. Because we have not developed these skills, the anger—when it finally bursts out of its repression—has an immature nature, as in a "temper tantrum."
10. The contents regress. Not only do they not develop, they proceed in the opposite direction, becoming more primitive and unfocused. Anger degenerates into a general, vague hostility.
11. The contents become autonomous. They seem to create "a life of their own." Because the ego has denied its connection to them, it has no control over them, so they arise at inappropriate moments, and in inappropriate ways, often driving us into compulsive behavior; in that sense, they control us. As the ego makes plans and designs its life, the repressed contents seem to develop agendas of their own, as though plotting a way to express themselves—but their expression will necessarily be contrary to our will, as though an alien force is imposing itself upon us.
12. The contents are projected more intensely. When we see people through a thicker projection, our perceptions of them become more distorted.
13. The contents can cause a reversal in our behavior. Jung used the term "enantiodromia" to label the inclination of people to go from one extreme to the other, as when a seemingly sweet, harmless person suddenly indulges a violent rampage.
Hopefully it's now clear how this "Feel Good" trend is rather dangerous if applied without understanding or led unintentionally to repression. Our negative feelings must be expressed. They can be "suppressed," temporarily. (For example, your girl/boyfriend called while you were in the office and what s/he said really "made your day." Because you were in your workplace, however, you chose to suppress your anger, sadness or frustration). But to "repress" your feelings altogether; deny their very existence, is rather harmful as we just read especially on the long run.
As well known, there are several strategies and techniques to "express" or "channel" our negative feelings and energy. Yet in general, it's very helpful here to recall the concept of self-acceptance (or self-love, Kazoo's favorite term ), which simply implies a willingness to view and accept reality—the reality that certain thoughts or feelings are occurring within us (regardless of whether we like them). "As we cultivate respect for the natural processes of the creation of thoughts and feelings and emotions, we can actively select the ones which may be expressed productively in any given situation, while carefully suppressing those which need to be set aside for a later time."
Here follow the negative aspects of emotional repression, briefly explained still with adequate examples:
1. Our perceptions are distorted. While the repressed material is in the shadow, it projects onto people and situations. For example, fear which has been repressed and then projected will color our perceptions of the world as a frightening place. Because we are not perceiving accurately, we acquire incorrect information from our surroundings, and thus we respond inappropriately; we react fearfully to situations which are not truly dangerous. Repression distorts not only our observations in this moment, but also our memories of the past and our expectations for the future.
2. Repressed material is not available for our use. Every thought and emotion has a potential purpose—perhaps offering new perspectives, and some vitality, and a broader understanding of our wholeness (as we realize that we have the capacity for such a thought or emotion). When we repress, we are refusing these gifts. For example, if we deny our fear, we are not able to use the energy that is associated with it, nor can we have a full perspective on the dangers which are triggering the fear.
3. Repression prevents us from understanding ourselves. For example, if we examine our "selfishness" (instead of pretending that it doesn't exist), we might find the reasons for our behavior; perhaps we will realize that it is actually a reasonable response to people who are abusing our tendency toward generosity. And, in another example, if we analyze a thought of violence toward an offending person, we can learn much about our ego, our boundaries, our needs, our viewpoints, our projections, and other aspects of ourselves.
4. Repressed material remains unresolved. If we don't even admit that an emotion or thought exists, we can't take action toward a solution. For example, if we disavow our capacity for selfishness, we won't look for the reason why it occurs, nor will we recognize the ways in which it is wrecking our friendships, and we won't seek ways to maintain our dignity and boundaries while also being loving and generous enough to support those friendships.
5. Repressed emotions become difficult to express in a constructive manner. During their period of repression, they degenerate into primitive forms. For example, repressed anger can become resentment or bitterness.
6. Repression causes physical distress. The repressed energy is lodged in the body, where it might be experienced as physical tension, physical numbness, lack of vitality, the physical (and psychological) symptoms of depression, diminished body awareness, and eventually illness. Massage therapists and other bodyworkers know that when their treatments release physical stress, the clients often feel an upsurge of emotions—the emotions that have been locked into those tissues.
7. Repression consumes energy. The effort to keep material in the unconscious mind is like the effort to keep a buoyant object underwater; we are using energy to hold back the energy of the repressed elements. When repressed material is released, we might experience a feeling of lightness and freedom—and power, because the energy from the material and from our effort to repress it is now available for a constructive use.
8. Repression causes emotional numbness. We repress by intellectually denying the reality of the emotion, and by desensitizing ourselves to our awareness of the movement and pressure of the emotional energy within us. The extent to which we repress one emotion or sensation is the extent to which we repress all emotions or sensations. For example, when we refuse to feel fear and anger, we also lose our capacity to feel happiness and pleasure.
9. The repressed material does not develop. For instance, if we repress our anger, we do not learn how to express it properly, because we are denying ourselves the opportunities to practice the various ways in which the dynamics of anger can be used in an effective, civilized manner. Because we have not developed these skills, the anger—when it finally bursts out of its repression—has an immature nature, as in a "temper tantrum."
10. The contents regress. Not only do they not develop, they proceed in the opposite direction, becoming more primitive and unfocused. Anger degenerates into a general, vague hostility.
11. The contents become autonomous. They seem to create "a life of their own." Because the ego has denied its connection to them, it has no control over them, so they arise at inappropriate moments, and in inappropriate ways, often driving us into compulsive behavior; in that sense, they control us. As the ego makes plans and designs its life, the repressed contents seem to develop agendas of their own, as though plotting a way to express themselves—but their expression will necessarily be contrary to our will, as though an alien force is imposing itself upon us.
12. The contents are projected more intensely. When we see people through a thicker projection, our perceptions of them become more distorted.
13. The contents can cause a reversal in our behavior. Jung used the term "enantiodromia" to label the inclination of people to go from one extreme to the other, as when a seemingly sweet, harmless person suddenly indulges a violent rampage.
* * *
Hopefully it's now clear how this "Feel Good" trend is rather dangerous if applied without understanding or led unintentionally to repression. Our negative feelings must be expressed. They can be "suppressed," temporarily. (For example, your girl/boyfriend called while you were in the office and what s/he said really "made your day." Because you were in your workplace, however, you chose to suppress your anger, sadness or frustration). But to "repress" your feelings altogether; deny their very existence, is rather harmful as we just read especially on the long run.
As well known, there are several strategies and techniques to "express" or "channel" our negative feelings and energy. Yet in general, it's very helpful here to recall the concept of self-acceptance (or self-love, Kazoo's favorite term ), which simply implies a willingness to view and accept reality—the reality that certain thoughts or feelings are occurring within us (regardless of whether we like them). "As we cultivate respect for the natural processes of the creation of thoughts and feelings and emotions, we can actively select the ones which may be expressed productively in any given situation, while carefully suppressing those which need to be set aside for a later time."
* * *
Lotus ♥- His/Her Highness
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
ahhh these points are so so true, i recognise myself (past self) in a few of them, especially number one!
its so important to recognise how you're feeling and deal with it, not push it away or ignore it.
i did mention this in another thread the other day about a technique i learnt during CBT.... taking yourself to a relaxed state and allowing your thoughts to pass through and sending love to the negative ones.. embracing them and accepting them and loving them like you would your happy thoughts
i've sat there many times in a relaxed state visualising little hearts and flowers flowing through my hurt and pain and my negative thoughts.... its very uplifting!
for me self-awareness, self-acceptance and self love... they're so so important!
its so important to recognise how you're feeling and deal with it, not push it away or ignore it.
i did mention this in another thread the other day about a technique i learnt during CBT.... taking yourself to a relaxed state and allowing your thoughts to pass through and sending love to the negative ones.. embracing them and accepting them and loving them like you would your happy thoughts
i've sat there many times in a relaxed state visualising little hearts and flowers flowing through my hurt and pain and my negative thoughts.... its very uplifting!
for me self-awareness, self-acceptance and self love... they're so so important!
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Yes, I believe it's a very important article. It explains a lot, especially how anger, for example, "regresses" or turns into an overall bitterness, or hostility and aggression. Besides, I, as a researcher, am especially interested in point no. 11, because it explains why several cultures in the past thought of those emotional energies as "demons." I and I believe others have always theorized that all such "invisible beings" are but "structures" or "constructs" of energy. This doesn't mean they don't exist; on the contrary they do. That point no. 11 actually proves they do. But by the same token, all myriads of angels and all other beautiful pixies, fairies, etc. do exist as well. They're not "illusory" or "imaginary," at least not fully. Although we may not be able to "see" them, given our current state of psychic abilities, we still can, I claim, "summon" them, experience their "presence," and even experience their influence on us and others.... Oh, how a magical world!
(Will be back in a couple of days; take care everyone).
(Will be back in a couple of days; take care everyone).
* * *
Lotus ♥- His/Her Highness
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
ah yes, i did note number 11...i took it this way... its true isnt it.. you hear a lot of people... 'battling their demons' and such like, sometimes emotions such as fear and hate it creates its own form, and life seems like some long battle with this other entity going on in the head perhaps?
some anxiety disorders such as OCD are called 'The Bully of the Mind' .. the ego gets locked in a train of negative.. or 'magical' thinking
maybe a slightly different trail from what you're saying.. but still if the thoughts and feelings are accepted and shown some love.. and realised as 'just thoughts' they can be released
see you in a couple of days our Busy Bumble Bee Lotus... take care
some anxiety disorders such as OCD are called 'The Bully of the Mind' .. the ego gets locked in a train of negative.. or 'magical' thinking
maybe a slightly different trail from what you're saying.. but still if the thoughts and feelings are accepted and shown some love.. and realised as 'just thoughts' they can be released
see you in a couple of days our Busy Bumble Bee Lotus... take care
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Lotus i just found this.. it's quite interesting following with the 'demons and monsters' trail
http://www.boredpanda.com/mental-illnesses-illustrated-by-monsters-by-toby-allen/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook
http://www.boredpanda.com/mental-illnesses-illustrated-by-monsters-by-toby-allen/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Oh I love these Night!! Particularly the Avoidant PD monster...such a cute little thing...
Some of these are familiar friends to me. This guy, for example:
Some of these are familiar friends to me. This guy, for example:
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
i think he illustrates them wonderfully!
and it does take the power from them seeing them in this way
perhaps he can draw some nice ones like fairy's or elves or pretty ones to represent the healing and the banishing of the monster
or have i been playing the sims game to much?
and it does take the power from them seeing them in this way
perhaps he can draw some nice ones like fairy's or elves or pretty ones to represent the healing and the banishing of the monster
or have i been playing the sims game to much?
Night Eyes- Top Poster
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Night Eyes wrote:i think he illustrates them wonderfully!
and it does take the power from them seeing them in this way
perhaps he can draw some nice ones like fairy's or elves or pretty ones to represent the healing and the banishing of the monster
or have i been playing the sims game to much?
You've been playing the sims game too much
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Yes, wonderful, thank you, Night. This is exactly what I mean. What this artist imagined and we here think an "artistic expression" is what a clairvoyant can LITERALLY see. These are the "thought-forms" every LOAer worth his salt should know about. The authority in this field is definitely Leadbeater, and his book on the subject, Thought Forms (1901), co-authored with the famous theosophist and incredible lady Dr. Annie Besant, is a peerless classic: "Each definite thought produces a double effect: a radiating vibration and a floating form," they wrote. How do these floating forms, or "energy constructs," look like? Not really unlike the ones this artist depicted.Night wrote:Lotus i just found this.. it's quite interesting following with the 'demons and monsters' trail.
The hard question is: How sentient these forms are, or could be? Now let's read again point 11 in the main article:
11. The contents become autonomous. They seem to create "a life of their own." Because the ego has denied its connection to them, it has no control over them, so they arise at inappropriate moments, and in inappropriate ways, often driving us into compulsive behavior; in that sense, they control us. As the ego makes plans and designs its life, the repressed contents seem to develop agendas of their own, as though plotting a way to express themselves—but their expression will necessarily be contrary to our will, as though an alien force is imposing itself upon us.
So on scientific basis, demons and monsters do exist. They even have corresponding forms that show the horror or pain of the thought/feeling that originally created them. Actually they ARE this thought itself. Therefore…
perhaps he can draw some nice ones like fairy's or elves or pretty ones to represent the healing and the banishing of the monster.
Exactly! (I believe Phantasm was just kidding in his comment). But I seriously mean it: As we can create demons and ugly monsters so can we create angels and pretty fairies. When people come here for example and "feel" this place is lovely or full of "positive energy," it's because of all thoughts/words of love, care and joy that many put here. (I did just that in my business and you wouldn't believe the words we still hear from our clients!) Because of these thoughts, the place is literally full of such thought-forms: flowers, stars, singing angels, beautiful fairies dancing and pixies hovering—myriads and myriads. Although we don't really "see" or "hear" them, we still can "feel" their presence.
__________________________
PS. Don't worry now we ironically have a thread on "dark and morbid" things. They're still "beautiful" though (and it was just to tease Selina, I guess). Besides, Phantasm's thought-forms, I believe, are very beautiful. Although apparently thorny sometimes, they're indeed as soft as silk and velvet.
* * *
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
yes i'm sure Phanty was just funning me of course! he's like a naughty little imp hehe (thought form?)
i think its definitely possible to create the more positive loving side with our thoughts, it reminds me again of the cbt exercise where you send love to your negative thoughts and i was visualising little hearts and flowers surrounding the negative thought... it diffuses the negativity
theres nothing to say we cant imagine a pretty little fairy sprinkling her fairy dust over the monster
aww and just imagine all the beautiful things surrounding the forums, floating around and spreading the love and harmony... magical
i think its definitely possible to create the more positive loving side with our thoughts, it reminds me again of the cbt exercise where you send love to your negative thoughts and i was visualising little hearts and flowers surrounding the negative thought... it diffuses the negativity
theres nothing to say we cant imagine a pretty little fairy sprinkling her fairy dust over the monster
aww and just imagine all the beautiful things surrounding the forums, floating around and spreading the love and harmony... magical
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Night Eyes- Top Poster
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Night Eyes wrote:
aww and just imagine all the beautiful things surrounding the forums, floating around and spreading the love and harmony... magical
Indeed.
Here's the book I'm talking about, by Father Leadbeater and Dr. Besant. The pictures are not very impressive, but that was an accomplishment in 1901. (I believe a PDF to download can also be found).
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16269/16269-h/16269-h.htm
Lotus ♥- His/Her Highness
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
thanks Lotus... it looks really interesting
Night Eyes- Top Poster
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Lotus wrote:
PS. Don't worry now we ironically have a thread on "dark and morbid" things. They're still "beautiful" though (and it was just to tease Selina, I guess). Besides, Phantasm's thought-forms, I believe, are very beautiful. Although apparently thorny sometimes, they're indeed as soft as silk and velvet.
Say whaat? Me with beautiful thought forms?
Trying to imagine soft silky thorns. Nope. Sorry. No can do.
This is what my typical thought-forms look like
And yeah, of course I'm poking fun at Selina. But I did actually want to use that thread for serious discussion of death too. I'm actually a thanatologist by profession so was interested in starting some conversation about memento mori and East-West traditions surrounding death and dying.
I actually think we need this kind of discussion. People tend to see death as being a negative subject but don't realise how life affirming it is to "think of death".
he's like a naughty little imp hehe (thought form?)
Me? Speak for yourself Ms Cat Lover
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
This is a very beautiful thread, and I've been meaning to write a proper response for a long time; however I've been rather under the weather recently and continue to be so, so the "negative feelings" and thoughts mentioned in this thread... well, needless to say I have at least one of those demons or monsters perched on my shoulder at every moment of every day.
I still don't really have much of my own to contribute. But this discussion reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh on suppression and on "internal knots", which I wanted to share:
There is a term in Buddhist psychology that can be translated as “internal formations,” “fetters,” or “knots.” When we have a sensory input, depending on how we receive it, a knot may be tied in us. When someone speaks unkindly to us, if we understand the reason and do not take his or her words to heart, we will not feel irritated at all, and no knot will be tied. But if we do not understand why we were spoken to that way and we become irritated, a knot will be tied in us. The absence of clear understanding is the basis for every knot.
If we practice full awareness, we will be able to recognize internal formations as soon as they are formed, and we will find ways to transform them. For example, a wife may hear her husband boasting at a party, and inside herself she feels the formation of a lack of respect. If she discusses this with her husband, they may come to a clear understanding, and the knot in her will be untied easily. Internal formations need our full attention as soon as they manifest, while they are still weak, so that the work of transformation is easy.
If we do not untie our knots when they form, they will grow tighter and stronger. Our conscious, reasoning mind knows that negative feelings such as anger, fear, and regret are not wholly acceptable to ourselves or society, so it finds ways to repress them, and push them into remote areas of our consciousness in order to forget them. Because we want to avoid suffering, we create defense mechanisms that deny the existence of these negative feelings and give us the impression we have peace within ourselves. But our internal formations are always looking for ways to manifest as destructive images, feelings, thoughts, words, or behavior.
The way to deal with unconscious internal formations is, first of all, to find ways to become aware of them. By practicing mindful breathing, we may gain access to some of the knots that are tied inside us. When we are aware of our images, feelings, thoughts, words, and behavior, we can ask ourselves questions such as: Why did I feel uncomfortable when I heard him say that? Why did I say that to him? Why do I always think of my mother when I see that woman? . . . . Observing closely like this can gradually bring the internal formations that are buried in us into the realm of the conscious mind....
More here: https://jejunejesuit.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/the-body-as-metaphor-untying-knots/
(at the blog of a jejune Jesuit!! )
I think for example counselling is a very important profession precisely because it brings these internal formations to the surface of consciousness and helps them to heal. Some of us are so incredibly good at hiding our pain and anger that we create whole mind palaces, build great walls of stone around them in order to disguise that they are there.
But they always are.
---
I was trying to find some pictures for Night of fairies or other magical beings enchanting negative (thought) forms and transforming them into positive ones, but I couldn't...
...instead, I found some Beauty and the Beast:
many different versions of the tale but the one I'm most familiar with, the Beast was a man who was very Proud, Conceited, Angry...and so on...obviously had a lot of negative thought formations. But he was physically handsome.
He was transformed into the Beast so that his exterior finally matched his ugly interior.
But then...once Beauty's unconditional love had softened him...he became less proud...kinder....
The curse lifted, and he was transformed, back into a beautiful man - both on the inside and on the outside.
I still don't really have much of my own to contribute. But this discussion reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh on suppression and on "internal knots", which I wanted to share:
There is a term in Buddhist psychology that can be translated as “internal formations,” “fetters,” or “knots.” When we have a sensory input, depending on how we receive it, a knot may be tied in us. When someone speaks unkindly to us, if we understand the reason and do not take his or her words to heart, we will not feel irritated at all, and no knot will be tied. But if we do not understand why we were spoken to that way and we become irritated, a knot will be tied in us. The absence of clear understanding is the basis for every knot.
If we practice full awareness, we will be able to recognize internal formations as soon as they are formed, and we will find ways to transform them. For example, a wife may hear her husband boasting at a party, and inside herself she feels the formation of a lack of respect. If she discusses this with her husband, they may come to a clear understanding, and the knot in her will be untied easily. Internal formations need our full attention as soon as they manifest, while they are still weak, so that the work of transformation is easy.
If we do not untie our knots when they form, they will grow tighter and stronger. Our conscious, reasoning mind knows that negative feelings such as anger, fear, and regret are not wholly acceptable to ourselves or society, so it finds ways to repress them, and push them into remote areas of our consciousness in order to forget them. Because we want to avoid suffering, we create defense mechanisms that deny the existence of these negative feelings and give us the impression we have peace within ourselves. But our internal formations are always looking for ways to manifest as destructive images, feelings, thoughts, words, or behavior.
The way to deal with unconscious internal formations is, first of all, to find ways to become aware of them. By practicing mindful breathing, we may gain access to some of the knots that are tied inside us. When we are aware of our images, feelings, thoughts, words, and behavior, we can ask ourselves questions such as: Why did I feel uncomfortable when I heard him say that? Why did I say that to him? Why do I always think of my mother when I see that woman? . . . . Observing closely like this can gradually bring the internal formations that are buried in us into the realm of the conscious mind....
More here: https://jejunejesuit.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/the-body-as-metaphor-untying-knots/
(at the blog of a jejune Jesuit!! )
I think for example counselling is a very important profession precisely because it brings these internal formations to the surface of consciousness and helps them to heal. Some of us are so incredibly good at hiding our pain and anger that we create whole mind palaces, build great walls of stone around them in order to disguise that they are there.
But they always are.
---
I was trying to find some pictures for Night of fairies or other magical beings enchanting negative (thought) forms and transforming them into positive ones, but I couldn't...
...instead, I found some Beauty and the Beast:
many different versions of the tale but the one I'm most familiar with, the Beast was a man who was very Proud, Conceited, Angry...and so on...obviously had a lot of negative thought formations. But he was physically handsome.
He was transformed into the Beast so that his exterior finally matched his ugly interior.
But then...once Beauty's unconditional love had softened him...he became less proud...kinder....
The curse lifted, and he was transformed, back into a beautiful man - both on the inside and on the outside.
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
aww thats a lovely post Selina
i think sometimes when you can see the root of your negativity, it gives you scope to understand it, and then when you understand it, it takes some of the negativity's power away, and you feel lighter and able to move back into a more positive place
i think sometimes when you can see the root of your negativity, it gives you scope to understand it, and then when you understand it, it takes some of the negativity's power away, and you feel lighter and able to move back into a more positive place
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
Depression thought forms:
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Re: Repression of Negative Feelings
repression is one of the hardest defence mechanisms to move away from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/defense-mechanisms.html
http://www.simplypsychology.org/defense-mechanisms.html
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