Our feelings are incredibly helpful to us.  Too often we make them wrong and feel ashamed of our feelings.  Many of us have been shamed as children for having strong feelings.  People tell us our feelings are too much for them and somehow that mean’s it’s our fault that they can’t handle it.  Life is intense and this kind of experience makes it tougher.  We can learn to be gentle with ourselves and reclaim our happiness.

Sometimes, because our feelings are complex and intense, as spiritual students, we do a “spiritual bypass.” If we’re experiencing something challenging and we jump right over our feelings to get to the spiritual truth, then we’re doing a “spiritual bypass.”

When our feelings don’t seem very spiritual, there’s a temptation to jump up into our head and intellectualize our experience rather than just have our feelings. That’s when we’re responding from the intellect, engaged by the ego, and thinking of what’s right and wrong, looking to fix things. It’s not helpful.

And our feelings can help us recognize what we’re doing so we can make a higher choice.

I’ve had to learn how to respond with compassion rather than the judgment that is the undercurrent of seeing someone as needing fixing, needing help. I’ve had to learn how to respond with my heart rather than the intellect.  My emotions of upset help me to recognize that I’m not in alignment and I can make a higher choice – and that’s actually being more loving with myself – and that’s going to bring forth healing.

Recognizing my feelings brings a healing.

It takes a great willingness to be present and to be vulnerable in order to respond with the heart rather than the intellect. And all it requires is our willingness to let Spirit lead us.  It’s enough to just be willing to be willing to be willing.  A little willingness is enough.

Have you ever felt that someone came to you with their suffering and you went right into fixing them, and right into the intellect? I have.  I have experienced it being done to me and I have done it to others and both feel painful.

When we don’t have compassion for our own suffering, then we treat others the way we treat ourselves – seeing them as having a problem that needs to be fixed.  Then they usually respond with feeling hurt and offended.

In this way, we get to see how we’re treating ourselves and why we’re so unhappy. We can witness how it feels to be treated as though we have a problem and are defective by observing how others feel when we talk to them from our intellect to their intellect rather than heart-to-heart.

Have you ever berated yourself when you’re having a difficult time and feel afraid? I have.
Isn’t it crazy that we would ever think for one second that chastising ourselves would somehow be a worthwhile choice?

Have you ever “should” all over someone because of your own insecurities? I HAVE!

And I’ve done it to myself!  Most of us have tried to manipulate ourselves with the “shoulds”.

As I said, I had to LEARN how to respond with Love and compassion.
It’s worth learning.
It wasn’t easy for me.
It’s worth learning.

If you can relate, be willing to pay attention next time someone comes to you for comfort, and notice if you go to the heart or the intellect.

Do you try to fix them or solve their problem?
If so, you’re actually affirming they have a problem, and they might reject that, and in the process it may seem like they’re rejecting you.

Our feelings help us to recognize what’s really going on.  Live and learn! Learn to Live!

Power of Love In-Person Retreat Memorial Day Weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina!  May 23 to 26.

Join me NEXT Saturday, May 17 for a WORKSHOP Why Can’t I Be Happy?  

My May Deep Dive Workshop topic is Why Can’t I Be Happy?   Joy is our natural state, yet, I’ve talked with countless spiritual students who have been on this path for decades who struggle because they can’t seem to find a true happiness, a fundamental Joy.  In my experience, when we truly live the teachings of A Course in Miracles then Peace is revealed, and happiness is its constant companion.  In this workshop I’ll share tips and tools that really work increase your happiness immediately.  We don’t have to wait until the world lines up the way we’d like it to in order to experience more happiness.  Our happiness does not come from the world and it never will.  Click now to register. 

RETREAT! Let’s get away together and have some fun while we’re having a lift-off!  Power of Love In-Person Retreat Memorial Day Weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina! May 23 to May 26 – Come away with us! From the very first retreat I led back in 1998, people have been telling me that these retreats are life-changing, mind-expanding, heart opening – and OF COURSE THEY ARE! My intention is so strong that we have an amazing experience of transformation while also having fun, remembering to laugh and enjoying ourselves together. Let’s have a wonderful time together up in those glorious Blue Ridge Mountains, doing our spiritual work and playing, having fun, eating delicious food, getting spa treatments and relaxing in spiritual community together. Things are so intense right now – let’s get a way for along weekend and open ourselves to new insight and inspiration. We’ll anchor the Highest Vision for our life and let go of limiting habits and beliefs. The mountains alone are worth the trip! Let’s play!  Click here for more info!

LATEST ACIM PODCAST EPISODE: my topic is Your Inheritance From God. There’s often a confusion about our relationship to God, and with our inheritence from our Creator. In this week’s episode, I share the essence of our relationship with God and how we can use that awareness to improve our lives and let go of unworthiness.  Let’s forget these crazy ideas about unworthiness and claim our inheritance.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE! – 75% off! 9 Months | 9 Teachers | Just 99. If you’re ready to dump the old habits that drain you mentally, emotionally and physically, and replace them with habits that support you and increase your capacity for being loving and feeling connected to Spirit, come join me! We’re gaining REAL momentum this year! Change Your Mind About Your Self – new program! With Gary Renard, Alan Cohen, James Twyman, Lisa Natoli, Mark Anthony Lord, Jon Mundy, Terri Wade, Rev Myron Jones and myself. Click here to learn more and get the instant download of yesterday’s inspiring workshop!