I’m a member of a FB group that frequently shares spiritual insights. Yesterday while reading an insightful post, I felt a stack of negative feelings. The thoughts that came up were like this:
These guys are so spiritually advanced… Look at me, I'm constantly struggling with fears and unhappiness…
These guys must have easy lives. Why am I struggling so much?
My life was so much easier before, how did it get so complicated?
If only I could be free of my responsibilities, I could just read spiritual literature every day and share quotes all the time.
I procrastinate so much. I'm so fed up of lagging behind on all the things I need to do…
I’m not making this up - these are endless riffs that I could keep playing, and often do.
In his book Letting Go, Dr Hawkins presents stunning insights about nature of thoughts, emotions, feelings.
He tells us that our thoughts are created by suppressed and repressed feelings.
A single feeling can generate tens of thousands of thoughts.
This is true of any negative feelings that we are holding on to: resentments fears, anger, guilt, etc. Once we start focusing on them, that energy grows and takes over.
Therefore to let go, one must uncover and acknowledge the underlying feelings and not tackle the thoughts themselves
Most of the time we aren't really thinking. We're thought-surfing. It’s like looking out of a car window and scanning the passing scenery.
But we always personally identify with them–”they’re my thoughts, they’re special” Turns out thoughts are surprisingly impersonal - even though they seem otherwise.
They are, Dr Hawkins says, a product of the field of consciousness that we’re connected to.
Investigate this:
if I am my thoughts, who or what is observing the thoughts?
It will become evident that thoughts are observed in a field that is prior to thought - an underlying awareness.
If we address that field of consciousness then we can release the feelings which continue to produce these thoughts.
Here is what Hawkins suggests:
Transcend identification with the thoughts.
Instead, become that which witnesses the thoughts.
In other words:
We realize that the content of thoughts is impersonal, spontaneous and ongoing. So, we focus on merely witnessing them.
We become aware of the underlying feeling that's generating them (for me, it’s often a fear about something compounded with a negative belief).
By not latching on to that, and by ignoring the emotional charge and the imagery that comes with it, we allow that feeling to run out. And run out it will.
Remember, when caught up in negative thought-surfing, try to bring your attention away from the content of thoughts to the awareness itself.
If you’re struggling with something today, try letting go with these 5 steps
Your writing is thoughtful, insightful and practical. The personal examples and vulnerability help make your ideas relatable. Thank you for sharing your insights.
hey this text was inspiring and awesome... would you be open to developing something similar in the form of short voice recordings for a platform... we are helping people deal with life and anxiety during covid and beyond... send me an email if interested rk@morningmsg.com