From Emotional Suppression to Feeling Life Force

We recommend a book by one of our teachers and guides - Peter Levine. Before we talk about the book, a few words about Levine himself - He is mindful when accompanying someone here and now who, with hope for healing, returns to their most difficult, traumatic memories. And for this, presence and an open heart are needed!

The book "In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness" appears to be a journey with an open heart through scientific theories, trauma research, and patient stories. It is also a summary of research on stress and trauma, to which he has dedicated almost 50 years of his life. It is also his most personal and poetic book among all that he has written.

And a fragment:

"Emotions are our constant companions. They can strengthen or weaken us. Our ability to navigate the complex emotional labyrinth determines whether our life proceeds favorably or not. The fundamental question is: Under what circumstances do emotions lead to adaptive behaviors, and when do they contribute to opposing behaviors? Generally speaking, the more clearly an emotion manifests itself in the form of shock or outburst, the more it has been repressed or suppressed, the more likely it is to lead to behavior that hinders adaptation. Sometimes at first, an emotion serves adaptation, and then - for example, due to suppression - turns against us as a physical symptom or outburst. If someone suppresses anger or resentment, the internal tension rises to a very high level threatening explosion. There is a saying that aptly illustrates this pattern: 'What we resist persists.' Emotions themselves can be harmful, and suppressing them further complicates the situation. I strongly emphasize that there is a fundamental difference between repressing or suppressing emotions and containing and holding them. This is a significant difference, though difficult to grasp. Let me recall again the meeting of the samurai with the zen master. The samurai restrained the habitual desire to strike with his sword. This allowed him to feel the murderous rage as pure energy. And this energy expressed itself as a sense of life force."