“The basic idea is not to identify with a feeling of depression, not to take it as being part of the essential self. Instead, stand aside with objective examination, just as a weather scientist might examine a dark cloud. Such a cloud would not make a scientist feel gloomy. Neither should the psychic scientist feel depressed over the observed depression.” ~ Vernon Howard from The Power of Your Supermind
Lots o’ teachers talk about this Big Idea.
We are NOT our emotions!!!
Anthony de Mello captures it well in his great little book, Awareness (see Notes): “Never identify with that feeling. It has nothing to do with the “I.” Don’t define your essential self in terms of that feeling. Don’t say, “I am depressed.” If you want to say, “It is depressed,” that’s all right. If you want to say that depression is there, that’s fine; if you want to say gloominess is there, that’s fine. But not: I am gloomy. You’re defining yourself in terms of the feeling. That’s your illusion; that’s your mistake. There is a depression there right now, but let it be, leave it alone. It will pass. Everything passes, everything.”
So, next time you’re feeling depressed (or grouchy or angry or whatever), imagine observing (and maybe even playful commenting on :) your emotional state like a psychic meteorologist would comment on a passing storm on your TV news program. Might sound simple (well, it IS simple, not always EASY to do!), but the moment we can actually just observe the state we’re in, its power over us diminishes immediately and significantly!
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