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Feeling Down Doesn’t Mean You Failed
Negative emotions are normal. They are nothing to feel guilty for, and they certainly don’t mean that you have failed in your practice to better yourself.
While on the path of spirituality or inner work, I know that myself and others have gotten caught in this trap. It’s the idea that negative thoughts and feelings need to be removed completely so happiness can be present 100% of the time.
As nice as that sounds, it isn’t realistic.
All positive all the time isn’t natural or possible. Negative feelings are a normal part of life and the acceptance of them helps to resolve them.
Though, with the word “acceptance”, I don’t mean to condone or support the negative feelings. That is like watering a weed that can destroy the entire garden, and plucking it would just make two more weeds pop up in its place.
I just mean not putting up resistance to negative feelings, but acknowledging them without judgement or interference, and allowing them to pass as they naturally will. A lot like clouds do.
This may be strange considering some of the more popular advice that is out there.
I know when I watch someone I admire speak about spirituality, they are very calm, happy or excited… anything but negative and dark. But, that is curated content…
