What it is
There are three things you can do with an instinct or a strong emotion:
- Suppress it: force it out of awareness without resolving it. It usually comes back louder.
- Indulge it: act on it without reflection or responsibility.
- Integrate it: acknowledge it, let it be real, and choose what to do.
Integration is the middle path. You can feel attraction, anger or envy without shame and without compulsion.
How it shows up for me
I’m learning to name the instinct out loud, even just to myself: “I feel this, and I’m not going to act on it.” Naming it takes away most of its power, and none of its honesty.