Feeling feelings

How do we talk to ourselves?

How Are You.

Feelings come in waves

Like the rain

Sometimes they make you smile

Sometimes they make you cry

Feelings need nourishment

Like the forest

Sometimes you need to act

Sometimes you need to pause

Feelings are like children

They need love

Sometimes they need time

Sometimes they need a friend

Feelings are our everything

So be gentle

--

This was a poem I wrote recently. I was thinking about my meditation and how I've had such negative inner self-dialogue/chatter for so long. I can see how that voice is becoming less and less influential from the positive things I've adopted over time. I've been able to let go of negative situations--better than I ever have been anyway--that arise in my mind and can simply move on from it.

That doesn't mean that I don't have negative thoughts or feelings, but I have been able to be more gentle with myself, if that makes sense. I don't allow myself to say shit like "I'm not good enough" or "what's the point? No one cares." Does it happen? Sure. But I don't give it the power I used to. I just move on and continue living in the present. I try not to overanalyze or judge. It simply doesn't serve me, or anyone. Of course, all of this is easier said than done. It takes practice.

I've spoken to enough people to know that I'm not the only one who has had self-doubt, or didn't know what they wanted to do in life (and I still don't). So I wanted to write something that everyone knows, deep down, is true: we have feelings. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're bad. You're allowed to feel the way you do about things. I guess my point is, don't be hard on yourself. Especially during these trying times. We need to come together and lift each other up. But it starts within. It always has.

-JTC