The art of calming big emotions

Overwhelming emotions can be likened to huge waves emerging from the ocean.

- ANETA LOJ

Creating a space between the self and the emotion helps us deal with it better.

They come with power, suddenly and unexpectedly. We can be 'knocked off our feet' because they destabilise us and we react instinctively. However, underneath the power of the wave, no matter how big, are underlying currents. These currents are deeper and they trigger the huge waves. These currents are our patterns of thinking, our personality traits ('sanskars'), based on our past experiences. There are also slower tides moving; feelings that are softer, but they also feed emotions. They last longer, like tiredness, fatigue, stress - and they accumulate and feed into the underlying triggers. There is an art to calming these big emotions.

The art is to notice the emotion without judgement or feeling the need to fix it. Create a space between the self and the emotion. It is not easy to do but the powers of realisation and discernment help us to pay attention to what is going on and see clearly. We do not need to judge, react, or expand.