EP 457: How to Process - NOT Prevent - Your Negative Emotions

Published: March 3, 2021, 6:50 p.m.

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As I thought about yesterday\\u2019s post, the concept of allowing our emotions to arise and then letting them go, I realized I waded into potentially troubling waters.

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So I wanted to be super clear on some details.

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When we try to bypass our negative emotions, we open ourselves up to consequences far stronger and damaging than the original emotion ever was!

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Now, to be sure, positive psychology and the purposeful cultivation of positive emotions is real and very valuable.

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And, as I explain in today\\u2019s episode, our negative emotions, like the stress response, are very useful and beneficial in the right doses.

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But like stress, too much negative emotion can impede our happiness and functionality in our lives.

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So when we bring a curious, non-judging awareness to our emotions, we can explore until we find the source.

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This source will invariably be one or more of Delusion, Clinging, or Aversion.

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And when we see this source, we learn a lot from it.

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But we also gain the power to regulate the emotions and reactivity we experience.

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Please let me know if you have ANY questions about this crucial topic!

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And if you\\u2019re around tonight, I invite you to a free group meditation and discussion. Click here to register:

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https://www.meetup.com/learning-to-surf-talks-on-buddhism-meditation-mindfulness/events/276652871/

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And check out my new podcast: Learning to Surf with Adam Asdel:

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-to-surf-talks-on-buddhism-dharma-riding-waves/id1512499997

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