You are here: DIME Home > Health > Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion


Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion

Not sure where to go with your emotions? Headspace talks about awareness of emotion. But what if you're already aware of the emotion, but simply aren't sure what to do with it?

Author: Andy Puddicombe
Date: Aug 21, 2011 - 2:21:12 AM


Printer FriendlyPrinter friendly page

Not sure where to go with your emotions? Headspace talks about awareness of emotion. But what if you're already aware of the emotion, but simply aren't sure what to do with it? Although simply sitting with awareness can be very useful in these situations, sometimes it feels easier to be a bit more proactive with the emotion...to do something with it. Here's a useful mental technique for investigating and increasing your understanding of how and why you feel the way you do...

 

1) Having focused on the breath and allowed the mind to settle, turn your attention to the feeling of anger, sadness, anxiety, or whatever emotion is bothering you.

 

2) First of all, where do you feel it physically? Is it in your arms, legs, chest, stomach, head, or somewhere else altogether? You may well feel it in several parts of the body, quickly alternating between one place and the other, giving the impression that it is ‘everywhere’. If this is the case, just allow your attention to settle on the part of the body where the feeling is most intense. Alternatively, it may feel as though it is ‘stuck’ in one place. Either way, gradually refine your search, narrowing the area down until you feel you have found the very core of the discomfort.

 

3) At first, moving closer to the feeling in this way may seem a little counterintuitive – we have after all spent most of our life running away from it. Because of this, it is quite common to feel a little uneasy or even scared about the idea of sinking down into the feeling. But notice what happens when you move closer to it, rather than trying to get away. What happens when you simply observe it, rather than trying to get rid of it? Does it have a shape, a colour, or perhaps a particular sensation? Try and bring a genuine sense of curiosity to the process. 

 

4) Once you have pin-pointed the area, rest your attention on that point in a very light and gentle way - still aware of the movement of breath, but in a much more general way than before. In the same way that you feel a sinking sensation when you sit on a very comfortable sofa or chair, imagine that you are just sinking down into the middle of the feeling. There is no force required, as it is a very natural sinking process. If you find that the mind doesn’t want to sink down into the feeling – which can happen sometimes – then simply let it rest wherever it is up to, even if it feels as though it is on the very surface of the feeling. After a minute or so, imagine the mind sinks a little further into the feeling, and then again after another minute or so. Repeat this 4 or 5 times until you feel as though you are right at the heart of the feeling.

 

5) Now imagine that the body is breathing through that very same point. It is as if the body is naturally breathing in and out through the area of discomfort. Remember, you have nothing to do in this process. Your only task is to notice when the mind has become distracted, when it has wandered off, and then very gently return the attention to that same point. Having returned, you can then once again watch how the body breathes in and out through that area.

Having rested in this one area for several minutes, with no special effort, allow your awareness to become a little wider, returning to the more general feeling of the chest or the stomach rising and falling with the passing of the breath.

 

By doing this exercise on a regular basis you'll very quickly begin to understand emotions in a whole new way.

Headspace : Meditation, but not as you know it.

Andy Puddicombe is the author of this article on Meditate. Find more information, about Mindful here



View all articles by Andy Puddicombe

Link to this article:

Code to copy: <a href="http://www.dime-co.com/health/Meditation-and-Mindfulness-Dealing-With-Emotion.shtml">Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion </a>




Related Articles...

Sunless Tanning Products

Jun 22, 2011 - 10:02:56 PM

Sunless tanning lotions and creams are a great option for tan lovers. These self-tanning products impart a healthy warm glow to the skin, without posing any of the dangers of traditional tanning methods. Tanning products come in a variety of forms, including airbrush and spraying solutions, as well as creams and gel-based tanning solutions that are quick and easy to apply.... [Read the full story]

San Francisco Dentist Believes The Smile Is A Reflection Of Overall Health And Well-Being

Jun 14, 2011 - 5:09:17 PM

San Francisco, CA, 14-JUNE-2011: Aesthetika.net is pleased to announce that Dr. Rebecca Castaneda, San Francisco Dentist has been recognized for her efforts in helping patient achieve the smile that reflect good health and well-being. The doctor works closely with patients to make sure they are aware of all the options available to them to achieve their goals for a beautiful smile.... [Read the full story]

How to Keep Your Baby Clean and Safe from the Sun at the Pool

Jun 11, 2011 - 9:36:38 PM

During the summer time, it is almost a must for families to spend some time outside. Whether at the beach or at the pool, families with young ones should take extra precautions to keep their babies safe and clean. Here are some tips on how you can keep your baby safe from the sun.... [Read the full story]

Things To Do Before And After LASIK Surgery

May 31, 2011 - 10:18:07 PM

Millions of people have opted to have lasik surgery to get rid of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Modern methods have allowed the best possible results and almost negligible risks. But in order to fully benefit from the procedure, here are some guidelines on what to do before and after laser surgery.... [Read the full story]


Newest Articles in Popular Topics:

Business & Marketing Computers & the Internet Entertainment Health & Fitness
Finding Ways To Save Money And Maximize Revenue In Business
Cooper's Golf Park Tees Off Their New Website
Fiinovation Adjudged CSR Team of the Year & Caring Company at World CSR Day
Reasons Why Kale Realty is the Best Real Estate Firm in All of Chicago
Montreal Tech Startup Kangaroo Rewards Launches Mobile Loyalty Program for Local Merchants
It is time we break out of the SEO Shelter
3 Strong Reasons You Should Start Your Own Blog
Evolve Your Career With CompTIA A+ Certification Exam
High speed VMware Backups - Powered by UltraBlaze(™) from Vembu
Things to Consider When Selecting a Domain Name for Your Website
Fling Boom "Launches" This Holiday Season
Beautiful Abstract Canvas Art is Up for Grabs
Buying Art as a Gift: Tips From an Expert
Complete Guide to the 2014 Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival Released by Jackson Mountain Homes
Learn Blues Music Online-Alternative to Traditional Piano Lessons
Causes and Treatment of Acne
What Type Of Constipation Home Remedies Are There?
Manual Wheelchairs: Buying One
Instant Facelift with Dental Implants
Lasik Surgery Leading Correction Of Vision Issues

Home & Family

Shopping

Sports

Travel
Enhance Your Learning Experience Through Best Responsive Elearning Development Tools
Best Apps for Learning German
Esvees is Cranbourne's Elite Hair Dressing Company
Ozone Generator
Practical Tips When Choosing Gates and Gate Openers for Your Home or Business
Why Cases are Required for Mobile Phones?
Are Dealership Services Worth It?
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Named Must-Shop SUV for Towing from AutoTrader.com
Online Selling With An Appraisal Advantage
Macsome AudioBook Converter released New Version V2.0.4
Aditi Ashok signs off with a double
Softball Coaching: Avoid Becoming A Nattering Nabob of Negativity
Softball Coaching Tips - The Funnel Approach
Pick Up Specialized Advice on Jumping Exercises Which Are Highly Effective
Vertical Jump Training Tactics to Increase Your Athletic Performance
Tips for Choosing the Right Paris Short Lets
Hostels - the best choice for working womens and college students
Perfect holiday? Book a cruise and sail in Croatia!
Say Aloha to Your Best Vacation Ever with Kohala Coast Properties
The Perfect Guide for a Fantastic Family Trip to Kansas City

 



Follow & Share Your Favorite Video Articles

Tell a Friend About This Site



Chamber of Commerce - on the Web logo



Subscribe to the eMarket SmartsTM Newsletter in order to keep up to date with what's happening with dime-co.com, get the emails on new video articles, featured articles, and more. Your privacy is always protected. We never rent, sell or trade your private information

:
:

Service provided by GetResponse Autoresponders


Recommended Associates


Latest Articles in All Categories


Putting Up a Small Commercial Printing Business
So You Might Be Unemployed And Desire To Become A San Francisco Real Estate Investor Now
Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion
CPA Websites: Five Essential Ideas for Composing Convincing Articles
Set Goals In Order to Come Up With Your Action Plan
Is the Air in Your Home Safe to Breathe?
Coarse Fishing Tackle Review: The JW Young 13ft Trotter Rod
Section 1031 Exchanges For San Diego Real Estate Investors
Phoenix Real Estate Investing For Highest Possible Earnings
Legendary are the Volk Racing TE37 Wheels
Developing the Next Generation Wall Station (ChaseDesk™) for Healthcare - A Case Study
What are step down transformers?
Introducing Sharehype, the Revolutionary Tool for Online Marketers
Rewards To Shopping For Austin Real Estate On The Web
Hydroponics for Beginners



Do you write?

Would you like submit your articles and have them approved on a priority status? Find out more about how you can become a Priority author for pennies a day! Click here.

Dime-co.com Home
  • Business (9328)
  • Computers & The Internet (5740)
  • Entertainment (1348)
  • Family (958)
  • Finance (1963)
  • Health (4246)
  • Home and Living (6670)
  • Marketing (6113)
  • Shopping & Product Reviews (2624)
  • Sports (694)
  • Travel and Vacations (1689)
  • Video Articles (1)
  • Editors Pick (1)