Every negative emotion has it benefit and function, almost all therapists and counselors would agree on this statement. The issue is, how do we allow the negative emotion assist us, and to what extent do we allow our mind to be occupied and controlled by it…
Everyone of us is affected by one of these common negative emotions to a varying degree – anger, sadness, fear, hurt and guilt. To me, fear and worry is the predominant one. Growing up, I spent lots of time worry about small things, such as if I get the perfect answer in an exam, if my boyfriend is interested in the girl sitting next to us in the cinema, or if my hair looks good today.
With some personal development tool, I am able to identify the source of such a pattern, and I am able deal with it constructively. However, the old pattern may be triggered (by the bad economy and general negativity nowadays) and returns momentarily, under such circumstances, the best way to deal with it is through mindfulness –to bring our awareness back to the present moment.
The Vietnamese Buddhist monk and philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh, writes about enjoying a cup of tea : We must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea, only then can we really feel the pleasant warmth of the tea cup, the aroma and taste of the tea. If we are ruminating about the past and worrying about the future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the tea. You will look down into the cup, and the tea is gone before you know it.
The past is gone, and the future is yet to come. Plan on it, but don’t waste time worrying about it. Worrying is worthless. When you stop ruminating about the past and worrying about what might never happen, then you will be in the present moment. You will begin to experience the joy of life.