I encountered this article this morning and in reading it for some unknown reason you and this thread came to mind. Anyway I'm a posting it here hoping it can find you find some peace, or solace about your situation in life.
Are You Feeling Your “Shen?”
On average, every day, 153,424 people from around the world pass over into spirit according to the World Health Organization.
Our true spirit is what the Chinese call “Shen.” It is the spark of divinity that resides within the heart of every human being. It manifests as love, kindness, compassion, generosity, giving, tolerance, forgiveness, mercy, tenderness and the appreciation of beauty.
One of the most famous quotes of every 12-step program out there is, “You have to feel it, to heal it.” Many people and different cultures, from around the world, refuse to feel or even acknowledge the term. “Feeling” can be perceived as a vulnerability or weakness, especially here in the United States. Feeling is actually one of great strength, growth, transformation, and healing!
One thing all of us have in common is that we have all felt pain firsthand, witnessed pain of another, and all have a story to tell of painful life situations. All of us share together in the “pain community” of what life can bring our way; no one is exempt from this community. Pain, sadness, grief, anger, not forgiving, and holding onto those feelings, that energy, or thoughts only stagnates, imprisons, and limits our lives. It can actually be a great catalyst for growth, transformation, knowledge, and even wisdom!
Everything We Feel Holds a Lesson
Every feeling and experience in life teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. It gives us the ability and opportunity to heal and connect on a much deeper level. Allow yourself to feel everything either in the moment or reflect after the moment has passed. This works whether it is a childhood memory, a personal traumatic event, the passing of a close friend or family member, or a toxic relationship. Allow your energy, heart, soul, and thoughts to explore this “spiritual paradigm” in greater detail.
The human ego always kicks into high gear or “survival mode,” or “protection.” Ego whispers to your energy, heart, soul, and thoughts that you must not face the real pain of the situation. Ego forces us to stay busy, focus on your career, focus on others, pretend it didn’t happen. In survival mode, we seek to evade or escape from this pain, trauma, and grief that is right in front of us. The human ego will continue to do this until the day you are one of the 153,424 people who transfer back into spirit, energy, and love.
What Happens If We Ignore What We Feel?
Ignoring the feelings, not embracing emotions, and letting them build on each other over time has a negative potential. This leads to other problems, from depression, poor health, broken relationships, loneliness, stress, disappointment, negative thinking, loss of faith, and even suicide. Most importantly, the “Shen” of your heart will begin to lose its spark and fade away. Keeping that spark of divinity “alive” and “charged” in our heart is not always an easy accomplishment. It requires “awareness,” and “discipline” on a daily basis, especially with all the changes life can throw our way. Working on your feelings and emotions through the physical body, the emotional body, the mental body, and the spiritual body as four different bodies is a way to gauge where you are at on your spiritual path on a daily basis.
Feel into what is in front of you, acknowledge, accept, let go. Set the intent to move forward with much gratitude so you can keep your “Shen” open and recharged on a daily basis. Live presently and authentically in your life. As the old sayings go, “smooth seas never made a skilled sailor.” “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person, your behavior does.” So take the time in your busy day to practice and be aware of feeling and forgiveness. Include plenty of healing, love, patience, tolerance, and acceptance…because life will throw pain your way.
How to Transform with Shen
Don’t judge it. Don’t analyze it. Don’t get negative with it. Don’t be scared of it. Feel into it, acknowledge and accept the feelings and emotions, and “let go” the pain you feel. The action and intent of acknowledgment, acceptance, and gratitude allows for the release and healing to take place. This creates a new, healthy, loving space for your energy, heart, and soul to grow. It can transform, heal, and lead you somewhere special!
Once the heart is open, “Shen” manifests as light and energy. It always follows our intent and illuminates the path for all of us in the “Soul Adventures” of life and the journey forward. It aims us towards the spiritual goals of love, kindness, compassion, generosity, tolerance, forgiveness, mercy, tenderness and the appreciation of beauty.
Life is short feel to heal and forgive to move forward. There is much truth in “what we resist persists,” and “the only way out is in.” So listen to the whispers of your heart. Allow the clarity, freedom, knowledge, and peace of what true healing can bring to the soul! The expansion, growth, and transformation to allow your journey to move forward while stepping into the authentic, loving, peaceful, and wise person you are! Hold on and get dragged or let go and be free, the choice is entirely up to you.
Every day is a brand new day…So let your “Shen” shine brightly!
I hope that helps. 