Hi, one thing I learned in a church group discussion was that feelings are never wrong. It’s how you express those feelings, it’s what you do with those feelings, that counts (especially with “negative” feelings). I was completely floored!! I was 54 when I heard that! I was brought up that feelings, especially those of anger and sadness, were wrong, and was never allowed to express them. So imagine my shock to learn, later in life, that feelings are not wrong.
Fully agree that compassion is absolutely ESSENTIAL to the process. I don't necessarily identify compassion as an emotion though, maybe more as an action which shifts emotions themselves? For me, and I believe this is what you were also expressing, compassion is the process which shifts emotions such as anger, bitterness, jealousy, and resentment towards those of tenderness, appreciation, joy, and gratitude, by creating a shared reality with another person (or with another part of our own selves!) Does this resonate with you in any way?
