How to Observe Emotions

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How to Observe Emotions

Q: We always hear about the importance of inner observation, but how can we consciously observe emotions? Even as children, to get us used to focusing our attention on one thing our parents used to say: “Look at it carefully. Look at it closely!”

But did they explain how to observe things inside us? Did they show us that looking inside ourselves can be a wonderful adventure?

This is how we grew up, developing our external “view”, paying attention to what is going on around us, but neglecting and repressing all that it provokes inside us.

The “outside” has become more important than the “inside”. Therefore, we often have to deal with things that have become bigger than us and are difficult to control and manage. This increases our fear and sense of inferiority.

External observation and internal observation are different.

We often use the former — which requires the use of our eyes and mind — for the latter.

But it doesn’t work.

In this way, we keep our emotional world in the focus of the rationality, which takes complete control of it.

By inhibiting our emotions so that they cannot express themselves — which they long to do — we condemn ourselves to unhappiness and disease.

To release them, we should not jump or scream, like children who have not yet learned to deal with emotions; we should simply let them go and observe them.

It’s difficult, like memorizing the multiplication tables, remember?

Learn to Deal with Emotions — Conscious Observation

Conscious observation of emotions is inner listening in a state of calm openness.

Think of yourself as a parent; think of your emotions as your little children playing on the lawn in front of your house.

You can’t see them, but you can follow their movements, listen to their cries of joy, and be delighted by their free and joyful expansiveness.

This clarifies how you can observe. The parent does not participate directly in the children’s games, does not organize them, does not judge, or disapprove. The parent simply lets them experience and play.

By feeling our inner forces, playing psychological games, and observing our subpersonalities, we make conscious experience. Another way is to participate in introspective groups.

Aurora Mazzoldi