Mindfulness Series, Working with Emotions

Emotions. 

 Let's face it, they are at the center of everything.  We spend our lives trying to capture, embrace, and savor the pleasant.  While we stuff, avoid, and fight the uncomfortable.

How we FEEL about something for the most part will determine how we will act.  

When our emotions get the best of us things feel out of control in our lives.  It is common to feel "stuck" or powerless or indecisive in these times.   We really can't miss the impact of our emotions in these moments.  They dominate our experience.  This is our cue to fall into our coping patterns or "habits" to try and deal with or avoid our negative experience.   This is how we have learned to relate to our emotions.  The more aware we are of what our coping behaviors are, the more we are able to decide weather or not we want to behave that way or not.  Do I really want ice cream right now or is something else needed?

Mindfulness of emotions can expand our awareness in the overwhelmed moments, helping us to be more effective and responsive to our problems.  It can also shed light on the subtle moments, when you know something is off but what is it?

Mindfulness of emotions is slowing down, opening up and paying attention to the sensations in our bodies, noticing and allowing the sensations to happen.  Sitting with or being with whatever the experience is, accepting it as an experience rather than "good or bad".  We have learned to judge them as good or bad but they are not really good or bad.  They just are what they are.

It is okay to do this.  It can be wildly uncomfortable but the experience is temporary.  If it is easier for you, start with the small or positive emotions.  The shift toward emotions is an enormous source of empowerment.

The bottom line is this:  Mindfulness of emotions will help us learn to relate to our emotions (big or small) in a way that allows them to be felt and "heard".  This leads to a greater sense of security and empowerment.  We become available to ourselves in the times we need it most.  The fear of emotions lessens.  They run their course.  We take the learning.  Done.

Here is a link to the website of Raphael Cushnir who has focused a great deal of his work on emotions.  I have found his book, The One Thing Holding You Back to be a valuable resource for making friends with my emotions.

Warm blessings to you!