“Of course, we don’t love painful feelings like anxiety or depression. We don’t have to love or even like them, but we do have to accept them, as difficult as that can seem at times. Emotions, no matter how painful they are, are not the problem. The problem is dropping out of school or work, putting your family or duties of life on hold until such time as you can work out your emotional issues. Would you rather feel depressed while sitting alone in your room trying to figure it all out or feel depressed while getting your house cleaned or your project completed? (You may still feel depressed, but you have a cleaner house.)
The heart of accepting your emotions (and, as you’ve seen, of reclaiming your will) is to do what you need to do despite what you are feeling. Accept and learn from your feelings, but don’t let them run your life. By remaining productive during difficult emotional episodes, you are more likely to improve your emotional state than if you do nothing but ruminate and wait for sunny skies.” ~ Dan Millman from Everyday Enlightenment
Dan’s big on viewing our emotions like clouds passing by. Just as we can’t control the weather, we can’t (directly) control our emotions. When we can accept whatever emotion we’re experiencing and then DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, we enter a different level of being.
As Dan says, “The most constructive way to influence your emotions is to do something.”
So, you feelin’ a little funky? Alright. It is what it is. Now, ask yourself, “Self, what needs to be done?” (Make sure you address yourself as “Self”--very important part of the process. :)
Then... JUST DO IT.
(Check out the book and my Notes on Constructive Living for more on this Big Idea!!)
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