We all have Surface Feelings and then we have the FEELINGS Beneath the Feelings.
Some Surface Feelings are –
➡️ Anxiety
➡️ Worry
➡️ Overwhelm
These feelings are familiar and acceptable.
They don’t scare us.
Some FEELINGS Beneath the Feelings are –
➡️ Shame
➡️ Fear
➡️ Vulnerability
These feelings can be frightening.
Most of us prefer to keep them hidden.
Recently I noticed myself trying to avoid them.
I kept myself busy and this was fueled by low level anxiety.
I wondered why I was carrying this anxiety. I got curious. 🤔
I dropped into the FEELING Beneath the Feeling.
It was SHAME.
Shame that I was not further along financially.
This shame began when I started to listen to others my age describing their 401K’s, their pensions, and their real estate holdings and I began to compare myself to them.
I told myself that I didn’t measure up.
When I dropped into what was beneath the anxiety and found shame then I was able to question it.
❓Am I really behind my peers? What does that even mean?
❓What are the facts?
❓What do I have? What do I need?
❓Why am I choosing to believe any of this?
After I took the time to sit with my shame and examine the thoughts that were fueling it, I realized that it wasn’t even true.
That is the power of uncovering the FEELINGS Beneath the Feelings.
Bring them out of the darkness and into the light. ☀️
In the light, they are less scary that you think.
They lose their power.
For me, I was able to relax into the belief that I am right where I need to be and that I have everything that I need.
And that low level of anxiety – it disappeared. 😊