Inner Thorns

Michael says that situations do not pass through because you either "completely avoid situations that would cause them to release, or you push them back down in the name of protecting yourself." (T.U.S., p. 85)  This may feel better in the moment, however, it is a burden to hold onto this negative energy just as it would be a burden to wear a protective apparatus to protect you from the pain of an inner thorn. 

With the example of the person who criticized me I found myself wanting to avoid him altogether and (ironically) I found myself criticizing him for criticizing me.  In both cases I was not allowing the actual feelings to come up and pass through.  Instead it was like I was keeping them in a holding pattern, circling around my psyche but never going anywhere.

Better to feel the pain (in whatever form it takes including irritation, fear, insecurity...) and notice who is noticing - that one is already free.

In chapter 9 Michael uses the example of loneliness and the ways that we distract ourselves from this feeling instead of making choices that will make it go away.  He presents a lot of great ideas about this topic and I suggest you take a look at pages 83-87.  Michael says that  "It (loneliness or whatever feeling you are dealing with) really can go away.  You can look deep within yourself, to the core of your being, and decide that you don't want the weakest part of you running your life."  (T.U.S., p. 85)  The key is to be aware of when you are distracting yourself from the feeling and then choosing to let it work its way out of you, as a thorn would work its way out of your body if you left it alone. 

So notice when you are protecting yourself from feeling something and realize that these feelings are just a part of the human experience.  They are not you, they are an experience that you are having, some positive and some negative.  You are much more than this.  Your energy comes from God not the world.  Allow yourself to experience the moments of your life without holding on to them.