Release and Heal

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. -Aniis Nin

This technique is simple, effective, natural and beautiful. We knew it as children but have forgotten how to use it.

It works right away with emotions, but once you have some practice with it, you can use it just as well for thoughts and beliefs, and for releasing emotional baggage around desires.

It helps to understand the structure of emotions. If we were fully functioning organisms, a feeling would simply be a transient message about something going on right now, and we would feel it as a quick ripple—a simple body sensation. That’s a feeling.

The mind associates a thought-story with a feeling. That’s an emotion.

An emotion is a pattern which leaves a groove. It is remembered, rises up again, accumulates energy, and leaves a deeper groove each time it is experienced. It may or may not be about something happening right now. Feelings come up as a response to what is happening right now; emotions come up as a response to thoughts, which are never present.

“Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. “ –Hindu Spiritual

An emotion is an energized thought, and it always starts as sensations in the body. This is obvious with strong emotions like anger or anxiety. Anger starts off with muscular contraction, an increase in adrenaline, temperature, heartbeat and blood pressure, and a hotness in the face. Anxiety may start as sensations in the belly. Even the smallest of emotions starts as a sensation, though we may not be sensitive to the sensations. The sensations start up, and they trigger an associated thought-story. With negative emotions, the associated thought-story is usually in voice of the inner critic. The thoughts and sensations then get into a feedback loop, energizing each other, and the emotion gathers up a storm.

You will notice with negative emotions, the first thing we do is contract. We mentally resist and physically contract our bodies, in anticipation how bad it’s going to feel.

You may also notice the paradox of negative emotions. Emotions promise to hold off the very thing they give us. Fear says I am trying to keep you safe. Anxiety says I am trying to give you the security you need. Anger says you are not liking what is happening. Hurt says you will feel bad if you don’t pay attention to me.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.” – Yogi Berra

In Asia, they use this clever trick to catch monkeys. There is a circular shackle or a hole through which the monkey puts her hand to grab a banana on the other side. The hole is just big enough to let in an open hand, but not big enough to let out a fisted hand. The monkey cannot get her hand out if she holds on to the banana. This is exactly what we do with emotions. We grasp them. And they trap us. All we have to do to be free is open our hands to release.

Here’s a quick experiment to show how this technique works. Make a fist and squeeze it hard as if you’re holding on to something, and keep squeezing. What does that feel like—a little uncomfortable? Perhaps it feels a little strange, but if you keep squeezing the strangeness goes away. It’s still uncomfortable but secure and automatic. Emotions in the same way are uncomfortable and automatic. And releasing emotions is as easy as opening your hand.

The technique  is a series of questions, which we answer very quickly. The questions in themselves are not important nor are the answers. The questions help us stop, look, and be aware of what’s going on, and they help us re-learn what we have always known: that it is easy and instant to release any emotion. Ask and answer these questions quickly. No matter what the answer is, move on to the next question. Soon they will become non-verbal. With practice the questions disappear and releasing becomes automatic.

When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky. –Buddha

When you experience an emotion, big or small:

• Can I make a lot of space for this emotion?
• Am I able to let it go?
• Let it go

What are you feeling right now? You don’t have to label it, and it doesn’t have to be a big emotion

Allow the emotion. Make a lot of space for the emotion in the body. Don’t contract. Don’t resist. Welcome the emotion, allow it, and love it. Then, make even more space for it. Allow it to expand right out of your body. If you don’t think you can welcome the emotion, it’s perfectly fine.  Move on quickly no matter what happens.

Are you able to let the emotion go? You don’t have to let it go, the question is: are you able to? It’s okay if the answer is no. Just continue.

Let it go now. It helps to sigh, or exhale long and easy while letting go. It’s perfectly okay if you don’t think you’re actually letting go or you don’t understand what it means to let  go. It works anyway.

Instead of questions, you can make them into statements, something similar to:

• I am making space for this emotion.
• I can let this emotion go.
• I am letting it go Now.

With practice the technique becomes non-verbal and natural and technique-less. You will notice a sensation in the body, make space for it by not contracting, and release it.

The mind will immediately question whether this will work. “It’s too simple.” “If I knew how to let go of emotions, I would have done it already.” “How can this work?” “What is the mechanism?” “I can’t use this until I understand more.” The answer is just to try it a few times.

Your turn. What release or healing techniques have your tried? Have they worked? Will you try this one? What’s holding you back?

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