Authored by Costello - people.tribe.net/37cb5d1d-...174f29b14e

They told me not to feel.

They told me not to feel proud. But pride has led me to humility, an honest understanding of my strengths and weaknesses. Denying my pride only allowed me to see my weaknesses, which is simply low self-esteem.

They told me not to feel lust. But feeling lust has lead me to enjoy sexual pleasure that is mutually gratifying and nurturing. Denying my lust made me a warped and closeted creep.

They told me not to feel angry. But feeling anger has lead me to friendship by acknowledging the blockages between myself and others and dealing with them. Denying my anger kept me bottled up and cynical.

I told myself not to feel love. But feeling the pain of love allows me to feel the joy of love and such a joy it is!

They told me not to feel, because feelings are painful. Feelings are scary. Feelings are illogical. However, I have found these to be incomplete truths. Feelings can be painful, but the suffering is caused by fighting the pain. Feelings can be scary but no matter how deep I've gone, there's always been oxygen to breathe. Feelings are illogical only if I am unwilling to listen to their message.

Now, I tell myself to feel. Feel more love, more pain, more pride, more embarrassment, more lust, more rejection, more pleasure, more anger, more humility, more powerful, more gentleness, more compassion, more compersion, more peace.

I invite you to feel as well.