Emotional awareness is similar to introspection, though it is more concerned with real-time emotions. You can practice this anytime you experience any negative emotions by being present with them rather than trying to change or escape them. This is where shadow work begins to get a little more intense and indubitably uncomfortable, sometimes leading you down an agonizing rabbit hole. Most of us are so used to evading emotions we consider negative that we rarely sit with them and reflect on their origins. It can be very difficult to do this, but it is of utmost importance that you learn to.
Next time you are experiencing a bout of anger, sadness, hopelessness, etc., first bring yourself into the moment. Simply observe your emotions; let them flow through you without judgement. Note how a particular emotion makes you feel physically and what you associate it with mentally. Contemplate why this emotion manifested: what external stimuli and internal thoughts directly triggered it? Then ask yourself when was the first time you recall experiencing this emotion. This most often leads to a childhood memory, however vague. Don’t over-think it; let your emotions flow freely and guide your mind. If you come to a block, don’t try to force yourself through it. Instead, go on feeling whatever emotion is present without condemnation. Just observe; then try to understand why you feel the way you do.
Additionally, don’t become identified with any of your emotions; this is why we tend to incur unnecessary suffering, because we think of ourselves as being our thoughts and emotions– which is not truth. Even the way many of us express how we are feeling implies this deep seated misconception: “I am sad”, “I am happy”. A more appropriate iteration would be “I feel sad” or “I feel happy”.
