Feeling Our Emotions

"The truth is that while analyzing and strategizing and preparing ourselves can occupy our minds, and may even help prevent us from being hurt the same way twice, there is no substitute for giving the wound air, which in the case of the heart simply means saying deeply, without aversion or self-pity, "Ouch."   Mark Nepo

When I am hurt by someone, I tend to spend time trying to understand why I reacted, why the remark or action hurt me -- when, according to Mark Nepo's wisdom, I would be better off just acknowledging that it did hurt.  And then let it go.  It is true that the quickest way for feelings to pass is to feel them.  Analyzing might help us prevent a similar hurt in the future, but too much of our analyzing seems to be an unwillingness to acknowledge that we are human.  Some remarks and actions will hurt us, especially when done by people who have known us a long time and from whom we expect more understanding.  But, to be human is to experience challenges.  The better thing is to look for the gift within the challenge.