People have different motivations for their behavior and express varying traits, but everyone has access to the full range of human emotions.  Emotions can ebb and flow like waves of the ocean reaching the shore.  Strong emotions can be likened to an explosion of energy that propels one to take action in a specific situation.  But one can also create a defensive behavior against expressing an emotion.  Defensive behaviors can include ignoring, repressing, or stuffing the emotion by holding it in the body; creating physical or emotional pain.  Each negative emotion has a corresponding positive emotion.  For instance, the positive side of anger is laughter.  The positive side of conflict is peace.  The positive side of frustration is a sense of accomplishment .  Core emotional issues have often been operational for a long period of time and have a significant disruptive energy associated with them.  Examples of core issues include rejection, abandonment, anger and control.

To identify a core issue, one starts by observing one's pattern of reaction (or conditioned behavior) in a situation.  For instance, a situation may generate conditioned behaviors that include yelling, storming out of a room, closing down emotionally to a person or situation, or leaving the situation altogether.   When these behaviors surface, take note of the feelings associated with the behavior.

One can release buried emotions by using the writing process.  A helpful first step is to express and release emotions concerning early interactions with parents or authority figures.  Start by getting a large notebook and write about the person who created the greatest difficulty in your life.  Write down everything you would have wanted to say but felt you could not.  Note the feelings that rise as you write in the journal.  If the writing becomes blocked, or you run out of something to write about, just ask "and," to start a new wave of thought.  Expect the first entries to be of a negative emotional nature, but the writing will shift to an understanding of the point of view the other person had in the situation.  This will be followed by a new-found compassion for the person.  Then you will develop an understanding of lessons you learned from the situation.  Continue writing about the positive emotions that come forth as long as you like.  Most likely, you will find  your relationship with this person will also change.

Source: Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils by Carolyn L. Mein, D.C.