Managing Emotions

Last week I spoke about turning 50 last year and the emotional roller coaster of hormonal changes. If you missed it, read on here.

Here's the thing - all of us have emotions.

Some of us have a more challenging time managing them! Some of us don't manage (or even feel) them at all! Whatever the case, I have come back to the simple practice of BRFWA time and again to help.

This simple presence practice, that we love and use often at the Sanctuary, brings us back to a relaxed state where our emotions can be "managed".

While we may still have "feelings", we are able to ride the emotional wave without drowning in it / losing ourselves for too long / making "bad" choices.

BRFWA stands for Breathe. Relax. Feel. Watch. Allow.

BRFWA Explained (Give yourself at least 5 minutes to experience this):
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Breathe: As a wave of emotion comes over you, slow down your breath.  Allow your breath to flow freely in and out. 

Relax: As you slow down your breath, your mind and body will begin to relax.  Soften your muscles, let go of mental and physical tension.

Feel: As you relax, you are able to soften into what you are feeling. Stay open to the sensations and emotions moving through you in this moment.

Watch: While feeling, you watch your experience closely, neither grasping what is pleasant nor pushing away what is painful.

Allow: As you watch, you allow the process to unfold. You accept yourself and your experience exactly as it is, dropping the need to change it in any way.  

BRWFA is the practice of being present with what is.  Being present is what we learn and get to practice during meditation.

Meditation helps us realize we can choose to be OK -- even if we don't "feel" OK.

When we are truly able to relax, no matter who and no matter what, everything shifts.

>>>If you're looking for more support with this, please consider joining my spiritual book club next month.