"Most people think suffering comes from not being loved enough. But
there is another kind of suffering that hides much deeper."
Michael Pinsker
We readily acknowledge the uncomfortable feeling when we move to a new location, switch jobs, or lose a friend. We rarely explore the distance within when we choose to shut down emotionally. Instead of sitting with our feelings, we increase our activities, distract our thoughts or hide perhaps in overindulgence.
Each time we bury or minimize our inner reactions, distance creates the sense of separation. The pattern of disengaging with the self becomes a habit, moving us further from our true nature. We may even hear ourselves say, "I don't even know myself anymore." We become dependent upon the affection of others instead of self-reliance.
If we maintain appreciation, respect, and connection with our personal needs, love becomes self-born. Facing life as we know it with confidence and healthy support, we are no longer dependent upon others. If we ignore our emotional needs, a sense of numbness occurs separating us from our true nature. Embrace the self with the love that is craved.

