We may be shocked and stunned by powerful lusts or compulsions. Or perhaps we are secretly consumed with guilt, because of things we've done, or that have been done to us. Often we are tempted to deny and hide these unsolicited feelings, even from ourselves. We think that admitting such negative feelings would make us bad people, so we try to distance ourselves from them. Sometimes we try to bury our pain with alcohol, sex, food, work, etc.
Feelings are echoes rising from the depths of our souls.
They offer an honest reading of our inner selves. To deny our feelings is to deny an important part of ourselves, to cut ourselves off from our roots. These are our feelings, and we need to acknowledge and own them. God speaks to us through our feelings. Facing unpleasant feelings can be painful, sometimes seemingly overwhelming.