Feelings

[Matt1]

How do you get in touch with your feelings? As a man and i think i speak for most men when i say this, we are taught how to suppress our feelings and to remain in control, if we cannot do this we are basically shamed or punished. It almost feels like a fear of feeling feelings. We are taught through fear not to feel in order to become what is consider socially acceptably masculine. I think one of my major blockages is getting in tune with my feelings, i can only assume that i have over the years like many people suppressed negative emotions and held off positive emotions due to perhaps a fear of social rejection or social punishment. If one shows negative emotions this is then considered to be out of control or a weakness, if one shows positive emotions i often get the feeling that through other peoples jealously they put me down. It all goes back to the emotional suppress and control of an individual . I think this block would effect the Yellow and Orange centers, creating an environment not productive for polarity.  I have been looking at some basic psychology of emotions and i have been made aware that we have 6 basic emotions 3 positive and 3 negative.  Love, Joy, Surprise and Anger, Fear, Sadness.

The psychology guides suggest that being mindful of sensations in the body is a good place to start as emotions have an connection in the body, i think this basically corresponds to the energy centers. Then through an acceptance of these emotions and allowing them to be felt, would clear out some of the emotional suppressed unconsciousness thus allowing for the cultivation of more positive emotions. I think what i do is become aware of a feeling and see its correspondence in the body, lets say its sorrow at the eyes, i am then able to put it out, almost like how someone would put on a spark or a flame from a candle with the fingers, stopping it before it begins. I can only assume this is from a fear of the emotions, perhaps that once the emotion is felt it wont stop, however this is nonsense because of impermanence. Perhaps then the issue at hand is finding catalyst that will evoke an emotional response in a safe environment which it can be expressed.

Any thoughts?