Sadness

Whangapoua Beach, Coromandel, New Zealand

When feelings of sadness appear, we seek out memories that are consistent with that emotion.  The thoughts and memories strengthen, magnify and lengthen the duration of the feeling.   Our sadness intensifies and lasts for hours, days, or longer.  In addition to the present feeling of sadness, we are reminded of all the other times in our lives when we felt sad.

If we break the connection between the emotion and our thoughts, the emotion will enter and leave us in minutes, if not moments.  We can feel the emotion with all of our attention, without giving it power by connecting it to our thoughts.  We can break the connection between our emotion and our thoughts by bringing our awareness to our feelings without judgment.  Thoughts and memories keep giving the emotion energy to sustain it.  When we feel the emotion without triggering thoughts and memories, it soon passes.

Shifting our attention away from thought can feel like death.  In a way, it is.  Our ego, which consists of our thoughts, beliefs and judgments falls away and we awaken anew.  We awaken to the realization that we are not who we thought we were.  We are divine beings materialized.

Let's bring awareness to our emotions.