How understanding your emotions is the gold standard to feeling better
A Big Move to another country – like so many of us have undertaken – can bring on Big Feelings of loneliness, often interlaced with bouts of self-doubt, anxiety, depression and the like. I think it’s fair to say we’ve all been there?
But the developer and author of Emotional Liberation, GuruMeher Khalsa (“Meher” is pronounced mayor), teaches a singularly remarkable discovery of how to release difficult emotions and return to (or reach) a state of peace and clarity.
The American author and emotions expert is traveling in Europe this summer and accepted my invitation to visit the Algarve in late June to hold at least one workshop in Lagos. I took the opportunity for a Q&A with GuruMeher to introduce his method to those who might be interested in experiencing it.
Becca Williams: I am a devoted student of your Emotional Liberation (EL) method because I profoundly healed from past trauma after being introduced to your work about 10 years ago. And now as a teacher of it, I witness first-hand the remarkable transformation people can undergo. Why do you think your method for emotional release has the effectiveness it does?
GuruMeher: We found that emotional distress is a natural indication of a problem. What you’re feeling also points to a solution. It’s the psychological equivalent of physical pain that tells you something’s wrong in your body. People really do know what’s wrong when they’re upset, but we weren’t trained to listen and trust ourselves. We use simple yet potent techniques to enhance self-awareness, and teach people to listen to their internal guidance. It’s a “self-therapy’ that can be learned.
BW: Your work is rooted in the ancient principles of Yogic science – and you have informed it with evidence based Western neuroscience. In other words it’s a mix of science and spirituality. Can you share with us your evolutionary journey in discovering that difficult emotions are pivotal to bringing about an elevated emotional resiliency leading to personal transformation?
GuruMeher: My early interest in physics merged with a desire to improve happiness – mine and others. Years of intense study of yogic meditation practices helped me so much that I began using them in yogic therapy sessions with clients to tremendous result. I eventually systematized the techniques and presented them in my first book, Senses of the Soul.
BW: Recently an American expat shared with me that he and his wife moved to Portugal about a year ago but his wife still struggles with the huge change from the U.S. to here. I know from talking with others, that she is not alone. If we use our emotions as an inner guidance system where would someone begin in order to start feeling better?
GuruMeher: Begin with a new approach to emotions as beneficial allies rather than nuisances, weaknesses, or character flaws to be avoided. Find ways to prepare yourself to feel safe in allowing emotions to flow so you can observe and interact consciously with them. From there, you can get answers. We offer a simple ‘SOS Method’: What am I feeling? Why am I feeling that? What do I need to feel better? It takes some time and practice to learn these skills.
BW: Over your 40-plus years in helping people release their difficult emotions, you’ve taught and counseled literally thousands. Have you found any similarities among people wrestling with unruly feelings?
GuruMeher: I counseled people with countless diverse issues and began to see that whatever the issue, one or more emotions always presented, typically some form of fear/anxiety, anger, sadness, shame, or depression. That indicated a scientific order – a natural system at play. Emotions are like the antibodies of our psychological immune system; they detect and address psychological distress.
GuruMeher will be teaching a 2.5 hr workshop, Sunday, 25 June at InLight Yoga Studio in Lagos from 14-16.30h. Contact: Becca 962 278 251 or AlgarveBecca@gmail.com
Did you know…”Guru” is an ancient term that emerged from Yogic science and is Sanskrit for “mentor or guide” for those seeking direction in understanding the meaning of life. In this respect GuruMeher’s work points to helping people understand how to use difficult emotions to train their mind and connect with their soul.
