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Allow it and be with it. The unpleasant feeling you're having is down to you attaching judgement or thought to it.

Great post, and one I absolutely agree with. I'm learning more and more that a paradoxical approach to this path is the way to find truth, and it starts with no seeking whatsoever, and no resistance, but full allowance of everything, without any judgement.

Still enduring it. Fuck me, it's painful. Had a real heavy purge throughout March - was literally sat with my emotions and sensations for hours each day - then I felt a bit better for a week or so, now I'm back in the dark hole again. I know it'll be worth it, but Jesus it's painful.

I agree, and see it with my family, too. My parents are pretty closed-off, but I realise they can only act according to what they know and feel. They also grew up in a completely different era to me. Depression/anxiety, self-awareness etc was never discussed in their day so they carry that belief forward to the present day. They're also emotionally shutdown to a huge degree, which again is a byproduct of their upbringing. They're conditioned this way. My Dad especially gets uncomfortable if any spiritual talk is said, but I usually avoid it at all costs as it's not something I like to preach about. My parents hardly ever open up about their childhood, but on the rare occasion they do, I realise how emotionally shattered they are to this day and how they have continually repressed any emotional suffering they have endured. I also realise how their way of life has deeply impacted me to this day and the amount of healing I am having to do. Still, I don't blame them - as I said, they know no different and brought me up as best as they could.

@Viking If you feel emotions are at the surface, and you have all day, then yes, I would. I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic in your post, but I highly doubt one would want to sit there all day and be with their emotions. I have spent 3+hrs a day sitting with them before, but I had clear blockages in my solar plexus and heart chakras that needed releasing. Tears flowed endlessly, but there is beauty in it as I was healing. Your emotions will come to the surface if you can feel them, it requires patience at times, but if you feel the need to cry all it takes is getting still and quiet and focusing on the area where you can feel the emotion and you'll cry, as you've said you feel like crying anyway. Worst thing you can do is resist what your body is wanting to happen. Crying can be a form of healing.

@Torkys I have to agree with this. Indulging in movies like you are is a clear escapism from what is bubbling underneath within that needs addressing, IMO. It could be many things, but perhaps there's some emotional healing that is ready to come up, especially if you feel like crying. My advice would be to sit with the emotions, without judgement, and cry if you need to, but focus your attention on the emotion, not the thought that comes with the emotion. You may be surprised what thoughts actually come up.

Good post, and something that has crossed my mind, too. Positive thinking and self-help are great; I mean it beats feeling negative and worthless, but you're right, you're not getting to the core of why you are feeling the way you are, so in that sense, IMO, positive thinking is masking what's underneath. Facing your insecurities takes balls. There's a lot of pain, anguish, doubt, misery, shame, anger and sadness that can come up, and a large percentage of people simply think they cannot face it so they continue to live behind the brick wall they built that have been up probably a few centuries. Also, I think most people are so conditioned to shut down and put their guard up, they know no different. We've always been told as a kid to stick our chests out, not to cry, not to experience sadness, when in reality, that is the worst thing one can do, IMO. Whilst diet and exercise definitely can help, it really isn't the answer to changing your conditioned beliefs.

Yeah, it's quite common. Your body can create energy from meditation, it's nothing to worry about, IMO.

@TruthSeeker47 Right, yeah, it can be quite a tricky one to master (to the mind), and I was second-guessing if I was doing it right, too, but it's like anything - the more you practice, the more it'll begin to settle in. When thoughts come up - which they undoubtedly will as you've got a mind - it's a case of seeing them - observing them - like a third person, if you will. Not engaging with them, simply seeing them there and not attaching yourself to them, not starting a novel in your mind. I think the easiest way (for me) to do it is not resisting anything that comes up, being very relaxed with what happens, as after all, when you get to the nitty-gritty of it, there's no good or bad thoughts, really, just thoughts I couldn't tell you if other techniques will get you enlightened as I'm not enlightened, and won't be whilst I'm in this body, as there's no ceiling to it IMO, there's much more to consciousness than we realise, and we realise very little, we don't know anything if we're honest to ourselves, yet many claim to know it all Try different techniques, though, yes. Why not. No, you're doing nothing wrong - there is no wrong way, so don't worry There's loads of different meditation practices, so perhaps try something different for a few weeks; mix it up? Ever tried simply observing your thoughts, see what arises without judging them? That's an interesting one, and one I really like. The pain thing is very common, but try and notice the pain rather than fidgeting, but obviously if it's unbearable then change position. There really are many people who place so many 'rights and wrongs' with meditation. There's no rulebook, so just relax. Also, if you feel you want a day off, then do it, you're not going to lose all that you've gained and your mind suddenly isn't going to revert back to how it was months ago Relax.

No, you're doing nothing wrong - there is no wrong way, so don't worry There's loads of different meditation practices, so perhaps try something different for a few weeks; mix it up? Ever tried simply observing your thoughts, see what arises without judging them? That's an interesting one, and one I really like. The pain thing is very common, but try and notice the pain rather than fidgeting, but obviously if it's unbearable then change position. There really are many people who place so many 'rights and wrongs' with meditation. There's no rulebook, so just relax. Also, if you feel you want a day off, then do it, you're not going to lose all that you've gained and your mind suddenly isn't going to revert back to how it was months ago Relax.

Are any feelings coming up? Can you feel energetic blockages within?

I think it's important how we communicate with others; what language we use, what our tone is like etc - this can make a huge difference in how what we say is delivered. Ultimately, you're not responsible for how anyone feels, but IMO it's important to deliver whatever it is you're wanting to say with an element of compassion and empathy.

Good post Killing the ego - or attempting to kill the ego - is an act of the ego, which makes little sense to do, IMO. Being present with anxiety, stress, or any emotion is key IME. No judgement, no self-sabotaging talk, just allow whatever comes to come, and be with it. Resistance is the downfall. Any emotional 'triggers' that occur within are from the inner child, so plenty of love and hugs is needed

Have you ever tried doing it unguided before? The reason I ask is that guided mediation has it's place for sure, and I started off using Headspace, but when I became more experienced I felt the desire to just do it alone as the guided ones were mechanical and using my mind, the opposite of what I want it to do during meditation. For me, sitting in stillness and allowing thoughts to come and go (and emotions) with no attachment to them is more beneficial as you're not using the mind, it's not being interrupted at all, but simply allowing it to be and you acting as the observer to it, and the body with emotions. But, guided meditations do have their place. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' in what I'm saying.

What is drawing you to guided meditation, exactly?