“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?” -Thich Nhat Hahn
Undoubtedly, you experience negative emotions from time to time based on your life circumstances: unwanted aspects, unfulfilled desires, fear for the future, regret about past events, etc. We all do. Feeling negative or difficult emotions is a normal part of life. While mindfulness may seem like a sufficient practice to deal with little stresses and frustrations, you may wonder how it could really help when the weighty issues of life are bearing down on you.
Research has shown that when emotions, positive and negative, are properly processed, they only last 90 seconds in the mind and body. So when you have lingering emotions, this indicates that you have not adequately processed the emotion for it to run its course and left your conscious in preparation for the next wave of emotion.
Using mindfulness techniques, when you are experiencing difficult or negative emotions, you can ground yourself in the present moment, accept the emotions, notice how your senses are affected, treat the emotion with kindness and compassion, and then apply the proper perspective to the situation without judgment. This will allow you to take control of your emotions and the way they impact your mind and body, rather than letting your natural fight or flight instincts immediately take over.
Today’s Exercise:
Today’s Affirmation:
I am in the present moment. I can process my emotions through the lens of the right perspective. I have everything I need.
Looking Ahead:
Tomorrow is the last day of this series, and we look forward to discussing with you some more complex mindfulness exercises to help you along your journey.
Cultivating mindfulness in your life can help you feel less stress and build positive emotions. With just a few dedicated minutes a day, you can create more resilience. Give it a try and see if it help you.
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