Truth in Emotions

Written by: Abeeda

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – James Baldwin

I recently came across this quote and it reminded me of a friend’s advice: “If you want to move past someone, let hate grow in your heart for them.”

But I cannot imagine anything worse than allowing hate to build a home in my heart, no matter how much someone has inflicted pain upon me. They do not deserve the right to destroy the sanctity of my heart.

Our hearts are pure places that need to be nurtured and cared for, which requires us to be aware of what enters and leaves them.

We know through our spiritual teachings that whatever is rooted in our hearts becomes manifest in our actions and our demeanors. How then can we knowingly let negative emotions reside, rent-free, inside us while they slowly burn down the very place we call home?

Self-reflection can serve us well by helping us to understand our emotional state, and the impact it is likely to be having on our overall well-being. Spend time reflecting on how you really feel, and make a self-promise: “I will be honest with myself”.

Our emotions are like the guardians of our heart — they speak truth about that which can harm it. The more willing we are to listen to these truths, the more open we are to a heart that will find its path of healing.

©️Abeeda