Riding the Waves of our Emotions

It is said that an emotion lasts between 30-90 seconds.  The sensation rises like a wave within us and then it passes.  The reason they sometimes stay is when we feed them our thoughts.  

Do you ever feel like me, where your mind in a way becomes hijacked by words, thoughts and then more feelings that then justify the emotion that started the invasion in the first place?  

For example, something or someone triggers the anger, rage, fear, vulnerability, shame, guilt…you name it feeling and rather than simply noticing our internal barometer has been altered, something much more complex happens.  We get lost in our story, our brain becomes once again hijacked by our reasons why we need to feel this way or that about this person or that.  It becomes automatic, a pattern of reacting.  

What if instead we could notice the emotion that was stirred within us so that we can rewire and redirect? 

In yoga we learn about how within the practice of asana (postures) and meditation whether traditionally seated or while moving mindfully on our mats and even walking through life, we can begin to calm these fluctuations within our mind.  

Notice the word Practice.

I feel that it’s a practice of awareness, a practice of self compassion. 

A hesitation in the moment we feel the shift occurring within ourselves.  When the sadness creeps in, the anger gets dialed up or even vulnerability comes around the corner.  Rather than jumping into the storm of thoughts that will keep us in the feeling longer, consider this.

Notice where you feel the sadness, do your shoulders feel heavy?

Pay attention to what anger does to your body, is your stomach tensed?

What does vulnerability feel like in your body?  For me, my whole being is transported to a younger version of myself, when I felt lost and unsure.  And if I am not aware, this can become how I present myself to the world until I wake back up and realize my mind has been hijacked once again.  

If it takes just 30-90 seconds to allow an emotion to show up, ride its wave and soften, wouldn’t you say this would take much less time and energy than jumping into the storm unsure of when it might pass?  I suppose as long as we take a variety of outdoor gear for all of the possible elements just in case….

However, I invite us to practice this together.  Take the time to feel so we can take more time showing up in the world as our whole, compassionate selves.

With love,

Leah