In the case of grief, PTSD, and/or depression there may be more time needed to work with these feelings and I recommend that anyone with depression or mood disorders consult a mental health professional before beginning or altering any course of treatment. However, with time and practice, whatever feeling I was having passed through me more easily-as long as I brought my attention, understanding and compassionate observing to the table. Why? I had never really sat with myself or allowed these feelings to be seen so there was a lot inside of me that wanted to come out. I felt relieved to hear this 90-second timespan because it had mirrored some my experiences as a meditation practitioner for nearly 20 years. In the beginning of my practice, I had big waves of emotions that definitely lasted longer than 90 seconds. I first heard about the lifecycle of emotions several years ago. Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor shares in her research that most emotions don’t last longer than 90 seconds. The more I could turn toward my experience, and the physical sensations in my body, with compassion and understanding, I could feel the emotions passing and releasing. At first, I was taken aback by how intense these feelings were and noticed my mind trying to make sense of what was happening. ![]() I spent a few days afterward feeling off center, crying off and on, and feeling a bit agitated in my body. After meeting with him recently, I was struck by how intense the feelings of sadness and loss were transmitted between us. The more you can learn to stay with all the highs and lows of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, the more strength you can bring to each moment and experience.įor example, the other week, a good friend was going through a lot of difficulty and loss. It requires that we learn to stay by turning toward the difficulty versus pushing away. The more we can meet any difficulty with presence, compassion, and kindness, the easier we can move through it. ![]() The power of learning how to live a mindful life is to embrace this truth as much as you possibly can and live for the moment with some future planning that you hold loosely. We never really know what is coming next and sometimes the best and most courageous thing we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep breathing through all of it. Life will always be impermanent and therefore always uncertain. ![]() As much as we would like to know, to control, and to plan every little part of our lives so that it all works out in a way that creates more security and ease, we cannot. What I hear from most of my clients and students is that uncertainty is what creates the most difficulty. The practice is learning how to stay with and turn toward the difficulty. ![]() In the moment, when something feels difficult, it seems like it will never pass. Every thought, feeling, and moment is quickly changing into the next. When life begins to feel more intense than normal, it’s important to remember to slow down, turn toward these bigger feelings, and see the bigger picture. Life feels a little more intense these days: at home, work, out in the world.
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