.. a well known saying by psychologist Carl Jung.

When emotions are not acknowledged, they tend to leave their mark in the body. This is because emotions are evolutionary signals that are designed to carry a message, to prompt us to take action.

So when we do acknowledge an emotion just as we find it, then it is said to last a mere 90 seconds, according to Harvard brain scientist, Jill Bolte Taylor.

In contrast, if we try to resist or suppress an emotion (for example, feelings of shame, anger, fear), then the emotion will tend to persist. What’s worse is when we unintentionally intensify the unpleasant feeling, by feeding and fuelling it up it with stories (which we are habitually drawn to do) .. and so adding layer upon layer to our struggle.

So when we are experiencing a difficulty, meditation is a wonderful practice ground to simply allow it to surface, trace the associated feelings of unease in the body, and as Dr. Dan Siegel says: ‘name it to tame it!’.

So as you identify the feeling, say to yourself ‘I feel anger’, or ‘I feel shame’ for example, and then simply be with the unpleasant sensation for a little while, observing how it might change, shift or dissolve, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness towards yourself..

Once the feeling is acknowledged in this way, it can be set free. The unease in the body is settled. The mind gains clarity to reflect on the underlying causes, and can evaluate options for further action more wisely.

Body awareness practices, such as the Body Scan, can help us become more sensitive to subtle physical sensations. We can learn to pick up on feelings of unease more effectively.