We all have those moments where emotions feel like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf us. Today’s message from Thich Nhat Hanh suggests a simple, yet powerful way to weather the storm.
“Every time you have an energy that needs to be transformed like jealousy or fear, do something to care for this energy, if you do not want it to destroy you. When you have pain within you the first thing you have to do is bring the energy of mindfulness to embrace the pain … ‘I know you are there, little anger, my old friend. Breathe – I am taking care of you now’. You will be able to look deeply at the true nature of your anger. This discovery, this understanding, this wisdom, will liberate you from your pain.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
He starts this piece with “…Every time you have an energy that needs to be transformed…” this approach is something we can apply to every one of our triggers. The examples that he uses are anger, jealousy or fear, but you can apply it to anything that might come up within you.
“The moment you begin to practice breathing mindfully in and out, you have the energy of a mother, to cradle and embrace the baby. Just embracing your anger, just breathing in and breathing out, that is good enough. The baby will feel relief right away.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Just like a young child who has fallen down and grazed his knee, often what we need is just to be held. By holding, by witnessing, this leads over time to seeing, to understanding the true origin of the pain, the anger, the fear.
I love his beautiful description, “The moment you begin to practice breathing mindfully, you have the energy of a mother.” It always starts with breath. The moment that we put everything else down and take the time to – even for a little while – become aware of the rising and falling of our body as we breathe, in this moment we step into the part of ourselves that knows how to nurture, how to hold whatever is hurting.
To get better at this, we need to remind ourselves to breathe in those moments when the going gets tough. Whether it’s the storm within us or a storm around us, it’s our breath that gives us the ability to take a step backwards and observe, “how am I dealing with this change in the weather?”
Mantras for emotional mastery:
- “I am aware of my emotions.”
- “I breathe through my emotions.”
- “I am safe and supported.”
- “I am the mountain, not the storm.”
Remember, you are the mountain, not the storm. With mindful awareness, you can weather any emotional tempest and emerge stronger and more resilient.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: I am the mountain
(image credit: Andrae Ricketts https://unsplash.com/@drezart )