Find the power to prevent emotions taking over your life
During our life we all experience ups and downs, and this is natural and part of being a human. There are times we feel weak and times we feel strong. The times when we have felt weak often seem to stay in our minds. We often replay the negative physical emotions that we felt, yet we don’t seem to recall or reminisce about the times when we have felt strong and happy. If we let negative emotions replay too much, we can ruminate on thoughts that make us feel sad or anxious. This state of being can drain our energy, affect mood and behaviour. Emotions are physical sensations that can be felt in your body. Being mindful of emotions allows us to acknowledge them, observing how they feel and where they are felt in the body, and how we are managing them for our own well-being.
An exercise to prevent emotions taking control of your life
When an emotion arises, gently ask yourself – what is this emotion? Can I name it? Do I recognise it? Where can I feel it in my body? Has my breathing changed due to this emotion? Is this emotion strong or weak? Then focus on your breathing to ground yourself in the present. Breathing in through the nose for 5 seconds and out through the mouth for 5 seconds. Do this for a couple of minutes and focus only on your breathing. The emotion should soon pass as all emotions are transient and you are creating space to allow it to rise and fall. Rather than allowing the emotion to take over by using your mind to layer thoughts onto it, sit with in in your physical body and allow it to naturally subside.
Can you think of a time in the past when you felt a strong emotion? Has this emotion now passed? It’s important to observe that emotions can and do pass. Mindfulness is a way to support this process and help you maintain awareness of your emotions. Use this exercise to improve your ability to let emotions pass naturally without ruminating or letting emotions control your life.