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Your Feelings are Valid
Nobody should be dismissive any anyone’s feelings — positive or negative.
As a human being, you have feelings.
Feelings can be an incredible source of strength. The ability to feel in the way humans feel is a huge part of what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Who you are, at your core, is an amalgam of intangibles both near the surface and deeply embedded in your psyche. Mindfulness — thoughts, feelings, and actions — are the surface. Habits, beliefs, long-held practices, and the like are the deeper roots. All make up the sum-total of YOU.
Society tends to look at the surface and ignore the roots. For example, the current unrest and protests. The symptom is poorly trained and unchecked police forces, combined with an unsympathetic president. The disease is systemic racism inherent in a system designed to keep the power in the hands of a very small few while disempowering everyone else.
Your thoughts and feelings are a part of what make up YOU. The actual, factual, inside-your-head-who-you-believe-you-are YOU. Just as much as your thoughts, ideas, and notions matter — so too do your feelings.
Feelings can get super-messy. They can be utterly lacking in rationality and can be disruptive. Feelings can sidetrack…
