How to Release Blocked Emotions – The Lester Levenson method

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In this article, I am going to share with you a simple, yet powerful method of releasing blocked negative emotions from your system. This method was first taught by Lester Levenson.

Lester was an American engineer, businessman, and spiritual teacher. At the age of 42, after a series of severe health issues including a heart attack, he was given a dire prognosis by his doctors. Facing the possibility of imminent death, he began an intense period of self-reflection and inner exploration. Through this process, he discovered a method of self-inquiry and emotional release that led to profound physical healing and spiritual growth.

Lester’s approach focused on letting go of negative emotions and limiting beliefs, which he believed were the root causes of physical and psychological distress. His technique emphasized acceptance, self-inquiry, and the cultivation of a positive mindset.

These ideas were later formalized by one of his student, Hale Dwoskin, into the Sedona Method, a widely taught self-help program that encourages individuals to identify, experience, and release their emotional burdens.

The method has been successful practiced by thousands of people, getting many raved reviews.

Here’s how it works:

Most of our stuck negative emotions are there simply because we are not willing to accept things as they really are. Instead, we want to change the issue or situation either because we want approval, control or security. So, there is a resistance to reality here.

Another obstacle is that we tend to identify the feeling as “me”. That is why we often say, “I am sad” instead of “I feel sad”, or “I am angry” instead of “I feel angry”. If we are able to discern the difference, then we can see that feeling is just feeling. Feelings are not facts, and they are certainly not us. Discerning this difference can make it easier for us to release our pent-up or blocked emotions.

Here’s an analogy.

Pick up a pen or pencil and hold it in your hand. Now, squeeze it hard and don’t let it go. The longer you squeezed it, the more painful is your grip. However, when you decide to release that grip, the pen drops away effortlessly.

Imagine the pen is your negative emotion, and your hand is your mind clutching it. All you have to do is to open your mind, and the emotion is released.

So, this is how you release your negative emotions. You know it can be done. You just need to decide to let it go. This three simple questions can help guide you through the process.

1. Could you let it go?
2. Would you let it go?
3. When?

The first question assess whether it is possible to release the emotion, and as the demonstration with the pen has shown, and countless people can attest to it, it can be done.

The second question asks you to decide whether you would rather hold on to the pain or to let it go.

The third question invites you to do it now.

This, then, is the release technique of Lester Levenson.

According to Lester, there are six steps to freedom.

1. You must want imperturbability more than you want approval, control and security.
2. Decide you can do the method and be imperturbable.
3. See all your feelings culminate in three wants – the want of approval, control and security/survival. See that immediately and immediately let go of the want.
4. Make releasing constant.
5. If you are stuck, let go of wanting to control the stuckness.
6. Each time you release you are happier and lighter. If you release continually, you will be continually happier and lighter.

I invite you to give this technique a good try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.