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How Do You Handle Your Feelings?
Explore the full 20 minute version with PDF worksheet
In 2015, following a minor fall, my heart stopped beating.
What followed, is known in medicine as a 'grand mal seizure', in which my body went into spasm to persuade my heart to start beating again. Thankfully, my heart got the message, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this article for you today!
It was a shocking episode, not only for me, but also for my wife and family. Needless to say, I didn't do it just for a free ride in an air ambulance! I was physically fit and in good health, so why did this happen to me? The answer was surprising...
In the weeks of reflection that followed, I realised that over many years I had lost touch with my heart by repressing painful feelings from the past. By stifling my heart's expression, I had essentially caused my heart to stop beating.
This was a big wake up call.
There are over 40,000 neurons in the heart and it has its own nervous system. The emotions we process in our brains also resonate through these pathways in our heart.
The physical effect of feelings are emotions, and this 'energy-in-motion' had become stuck in my heart, eventually manifesting as a physical problem. Thankfully, I got the message and started the journey of opening my heart, reconnecting with my feelings, and healing this imbalance.
I also learned that by repressing my feelings, I was unwittingly numbing myself from ALL feelings, both negative and positive. As a result, life was becoming a repetitive monotone and joy was becoming a distant memory.
This story may seem a fairly extreme case, but the detrimental effects of unprocessed feelings and emotions on the heart is much more widespread than we realise. For example, it's interesting to note that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally.
Most of us repress feelings from time to time, especially in the ups and downs of relationships. However, it is vitally important for our physical, mental and spiritual health that we allow feelings to flow naturally through us.
We need to be able to express them safely and constructively without trying to 'squash them down'.
How can we do this?
A useful first step is to encourage our hearts to open.
I invite you to join me in this 10 minute heart opening meditation. For the most benefit, I recommend listening to it on a regular basis.
A more powerful 20 minute version of this meditation is available, which also comes with an accompanying PDF worksheet for a deeper healing experience.
From my heart, I wish you love, light and peace. ❤️
Olly
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to share it will family and friends, and comment below if you would like to share your experiences of how to promote healthy feelings and emotions.
If you would like to discuss how spiritual counselling might be able to help you heal difficult feelings and emotions from past trauma, you are most welcome to book a free discovery call with me.
