Your Emotional Debt

On the surface, everyday life has become much more comfortable than ever before. Yet people still lead lives of quiet desperation. The source of this desperation is repression, a sense that you cannot be what you want to be, cannot feel what you want to feel, cannot do what you want to do.

A creator should never be trapped in this way. No authority looms over you to enforce repression; it is entirely self-forced. Any part of yourself that you cannot face puts a barrier between you and reality.

Yet emotions are entirely private. Only you know how you feel, and when you stop censoring your emotions, the effect goes far beyond feeling better. Your aim is not to experience only positive emotions.

We all owe emotional debts to the past, in the form of feelings we couldn’t allow ourselves to express. The past isn’t over as long as these debts go unpaid. You don’t have to return to the person who made you angry or afraid, with the intention of revising how the past turned out. For that person, the impact can never be the same as it is for you.

Every hidden, blocked feeling is like a chunk of frozen consciousness. It is another obstacle between you and the silent witness that must be dissolved. Time and attention have to be paid, sitting with your feelings and letting them say what they have to say.

The purpose of getting rid of emotional debt is to find your place in the present.

Adapted from The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2004).

Read more: Deepak Chopra's Tips, Spirit, emotions, feelings, obstacle

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ida J.

1:34PM PDT on Sep 30, 2011

thank you

send a green star

Robert O.

11:35AM PDT on Jul 17, 2011

I have a huge emotional debt that I hope to "pay down" soon. Carying it around with me has really had a negative impact on my life and general outlook. Thanks.

Franco D.

12:32PM PDT on Apr 27, 2011

Carry a lot of it if you were born Catholic as I was.

Jess No Fwd Plz K.

4:58AM PDT on Oct 1, 2010

I just went through a situation where I cleared out some emotional debt. I didn't even know I had it, but now that I have gone through the process it is surprising I missed it. A lot of emotional goals I was struggling with seem to take less effort now. I am glad that I was able to dislodge this hidden root, and I recommend this process for anyone.

Jewels S.

5:44PM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

To keep repression at bay I try to keep reading books of people that follow their passions. My latest was "three cups of tea" He really fell into his passion. It is so inspiring. Another one is "What really matters"

Clemente S.

4:06AM PDT on Sep 7, 2010

I am grateful for what I have, but most people need to work very hard to put food on the table, to secure our job. There are things we just cannot stop worrying about every time we plan our future. It is good to stop worrying things we should not be thinking about, but when I am living on aids or worrying about next day food ... it is different

Justin R.

8:55AM PDT on Sep 6, 2010

Thank you for putting feelings on a page - they seem clearer and help to take action.

Lucy B.

5:02AM PDT on Sep 6, 2010

wonderful news

Lucien G.

7:04PM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

Thank you for this wonderful post. Living life in the moment is the key :-)

Olivia S.

8:31AM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

Unfortunately the socialization process (which starts very early in life) teaches us to repress our true feelings. And as a working adult I had to hold my tongue because I had to work to support my disabled husband. But last year I took a leap of faith, and quit working as I could no longer be untrue to my principles and feelings. I have gradually peeled away those repressed layers and can truly say that I am now at least 98% "free"....and it is wonderful...even making the financial struggle a welcomed adventure.