No, condemnation causes us to cling more firmly to the feelings, usually, under the delusion that it is *ourselves* being attacked. Anything that triggers an automatic defense mechanism can't be helpful.
This made me stop dead in my tracks: "The same is true for fear. We think of fear as an emotion that constricts us and keeps us from living fully. But I think it's really the fear of fear that does this. When we are able to tolerate fear, and to experience it consciously, we learn not to be so afraid of it -- and this gives us the freedom to live with courage and enjoy life more fully. This is the alchemy of fear to joy."
I have had an enduring relationship with fear ... paranoid, borderline (probably over the line) pathological fear since quite early childhood. Although this had moderated much in recent years, I have a long-standing habit of considering fear the ultimate enemy. It never even occured to me that the true enemy was the fear of fear, the rejection and refusal of the emotion rather than learning to live and function in its presence. The problem was, too, when I demonised fear, I demonised all fear ... not just the irrational terrors, but normal fear associated with doing new and challenging things, etc. Naturally, my attempt was to try to minimize such anxieties .... I was in danger of going down the same road as Solid M's wife, imprisoning myself within an ever-dwindling comfort zone.
If you will allow me to be *extremely* geeky for a moment (yes, I find wisdom and inspiration in scifi; wanna make something of it? grin), I was missing the point of Frank Herbert's famous Litany: "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." I was so focused on the beginning, I missed the essential steps of facing and processing....
My, I wax pseudo-philosophical when I really should be sleeping ....
However, I have to admit, "We have nothing to fear but the fear of fear itself" doesn't have *quite* the same ring; grin.
Enough meandering. I see that I will have to read some James Hollis. So thank *you* in return.
"Show me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock." -- Frank Herbert
