Of all the aspects of Mindfulness, increased awareness of one’s emotions must be amongst the most important and immediately helpful. Taking the first step of consciously monitoring the emotions that flow through us goes a long way toward understanding them and beginning to take control over our inner state. It is not long in this stage of merely taking note before we begin to recognize the difference between healthy and unhealthy, helpful and detrimental emotions. Although this is not in itself unique to the Mindful approach, by adding a further step of analysis, one can trace emotions back to their roots and begin to contrast one’s actual thoughts and behaviour with alternative options. It is interesting that in our society and education we are taught to think critically and analyze tasks, yet this thought process is often not applied when considering our emotions and behaviour.
With greater introspection – being Mindful of our thoughts and inner state – it is inevitable that we begin to move away from negative thoughts and harmful behaviour as our awareness (and natural aversion) of them grows. This gradual drift from our normal approach to our emotions sparks off the idea that we might in fact have far greater control than we think over our happiness, composure and self-control.
Although it is only the first step towards effectively managing your emotions, it is nonetheless a difficult and sometimes uncomfortable process. Confronting your negative emotions requires that you actually deal with them rather than taking the seemingly easier route of acceptance and endurance of the consequences. Being more Mindful of your thoughts quickly reveals, however, that it no longer feels acceptable to continue in such a way and that change might not be as hard as you think.
A little self-analysis can go a long way... Good luck, see you soon!
With greater introspection – being Mindful of our thoughts and inner state – it is inevitable that we begin to move away from negative thoughts and harmful behaviour as our awareness (and natural aversion) of them grows. This gradual drift from our normal approach to our emotions sparks off the idea that we might in fact have far greater control than we think over our happiness, composure and self-control.
Although it is only the first step towards effectively managing your emotions, it is nonetheless a difficult and sometimes uncomfortable process. Confronting your negative emotions requires that you actually deal with them rather than taking the seemingly easier route of acceptance and endurance of the consequences. Being more Mindful of your thoughts quickly reveals, however, that it no longer feels acceptable to continue in such a way and that change might not be as hard as you think.
A little self-analysis can go a long way... Good luck, see you soon!
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