Judith Orloff
Barbara: What is the role of compassion in emotional freedom?
Judith Orloff MD: Compassion is key because unless you have self-compassion, it’s hard to heal difficult emotional states. And also when a loved one is going through a trying time, being compassionate without judging them is essential. My spiritual teacher says we make progress on the spiritual path by beating ourselves up a little bit less each day. I believe that. It’s about baby steps.
Barbara: You say that emotions have four crucial components. What are they and why is it vital to know about them?
Judith Orloff MD: To experience emotional freedom it’s necessary to understand these four basic components of emotion: their biology, spirituality, energy, and psychology. With fear, frustration, loneliness, worry, and more, the book teaches you to proactively shift your biochemistry as well as your energy, and to see the spiritual and psychological meaning of what you’re going through.This will give you all the tools you need to change.
Barbara: You believe that emotions are a path to spiritual awakening. Please explain.
Judith Orloff MD: I see difficult emotions as a laboratory for spiritual growth–whereas traditional psychiatry often views them more as tormentors, something to get rid of. I believe that emotions come to us-even wrenching ones like depression-to spiritually awaken us. Each emotion is a prompt for us to get more in touch with our hearts and expand our light. This perspective really changes how you deal with all emotional challenges.
Barbara: How can emotional freedom help us to not absorb negative emotions from others?
Judith Orloff MD: Many sensitive people come to me, as patients and in workshops, who’ve been labeled “overly sensitive.” These people, including me, are what I call “emotional empaths.” Because we are so sensitive, we absorb the energy of others. We sense their fear, anxiety, and stress and take them into our bodies. Then we get exhausted or feel ill ourselves. As a child, I couldn’t go into shopping malls or crowded places because I’d walk in fine and then walk out exhausted or with some ache or pain I didn’t have before. I didn’t realize what was happening. I went to my mother, a physician, who said, “Oh, no, dear, you just don’t have a thick enough skin.” Not a good thing to tell an intuitive child! But as I’ve matured intuitively and as a physician, I’ve realized that people on a spiritual path tend to gain more sensitivity as they develop. Thus, they need to learn how not to absorb outside energy so they can feel joyous and free. This book discusses how to be compassionate but stay centered without becoming a n emotional sponge.
Barbara: When dealing with difficult personalities, it’s easy to lose our cool or attack back. How can Emotional Freedom teach us to cope in a calmer manner?
