We do not have to be a slave to our emotions. They don’t have to control us, and they most certainly don’t have to last forever. Yes, it is true that unpleasant emotions when they arise feel like an eternity, but I wonder how much of that is due to the negative way in which we interpret our experience and less with the physiological emotion itself.
The practice of mindfulness can help us learn how to cope more effectively with our emotions. Consider the following:
• We experience emotions continuously throughout the day. Emotions are passing body sensations NOT inherent aspects of our selves.
• Emotions often start out as a small nudge that gradually increases in intensity and then decreases.
• Learning to watch our emotions come and go, we see how our mind works.
