Sailing the Sea of Emotion

     "Emotion can be the enemy... The 'moment' has not yesterday or tomorrow. It is not the result of thought and, therefore, has not time." - Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do

     Have you ever had a bad day? I mean a really lousy day. The kind of day that when it was over, you went home, and you replayed it in your mind again and again. Maybe your boss got upset with you and made you feel inferior. Maybe you and your spouse or friend had a heated argument. Or maybe you had an opportunity to be courageous but just couldn't find the courage. Have you ever had that kind of day? Sure you have. We all have. But how long did that moment last for you? I mean really last. In all reality it should of ended when you were separated from the situation. Right? Of coarse, it should of. But did it? 

     Now, I want you to remember having one of those days you just read about. Not the bad day itself, but the thought process you used that day. I want you to remember how that day made you feel and remember how long you carried that feeling around. When you got home that day, did you sit in your favorite chair and think about it? Or maybe you paced the room for a while, contemplating every word that was said and replaying the entire incident. (Only this time, you said the things you wanted to say and did the things you wanted to do, no matter how out there they may be).  Did you talk about it at dinner? Or maybe you rolled around in bed that night... replaying, replaying, replaying: What you did do- What you should of done- Blah, blah, blah. All the while, the emotion that stirred inside you during the incident began to swell in you again like a giant wave as you "relived" that moment.

     I know what your thinking. 'Yes, Kung Fu Monk, I'm guilty of that. So, what wise Kung Fu Zen words do you have?"  I'm so glad you asked, dear reader. Now, even with all my mystical powers, that I don't have, I can't stop you from having bad days. Shocking, I know. But  I can help you end those moments faster then you can say, Judo chop! And ending them quickly will help you regain your happiness, quickly. Now let's step back and take a look at what's going on, on the internal level, shall we?

THOUGHT CAN TRANSCEND INTO EMOTION.

     When we think a thought, such as a memory or fantasy, we can automatically evoke emotion. This principle can be a pleasurable one if we are thinking good thoughts or thinking about good memories. However, this is a two way street. Just like it feels good to think "happy thoughts", we can also manifest stress, anger, or sadness when we think about less positive events. Why? Simple.

     Thoughts are like clouds passing through the mind. They aren't tangible to touch. Often though, as a thought comes into our mind, we let our heart grab onto the thought. And as soon as we do this, we evoke the associated emotion and that emotion latches onto the thought. And when we allow the heart to attach the emotion, we give our thought power. And much like water circling the drain, we find ourselves swept up in a sea of emotion. Consequently, you transport yourself back to that moment that you are thinking of.

    Chew on it for a minute. If something made you very angry through the coarse of your day, and you think about it, don't you become angry all over again? So how do we stop this? It's very simple... but very difficult. (Kind of like marriage or juggling chainsaws). You just have to apply the right antidote. We have to be mindful of where we are right now, and the moment that we are in- right now! When I start replaying my day like a bad movie in my mind, I stop myself. I say to myself, "Kung Fu Monk, where are you? What time is it?" I then say to myself, "I am right HERE! And the time is right NOW!" That brings me back to where I'm suppose to be. Present in my own life. I stop "living" in the past or in a phantom memory that didn't happen. I mentally recognize that that moment is over. It is now non existent. I am here. No need to be anywhere else. Especially, in the past. This mental application was very helpful to me after my mother died.

     When we get lost in our memories or thoughts of yesterday (Or ten minutes ago), we often attach emotions. And those emotions rob us of our lives. Our mind can put us emotionally in a bad place and that  often disrupts our lives and the lives of those around us. Being alive and being you are blessings that are meant to be lived in joy. Not anger or delusion. (Even if you are standing in line at the D.M.V.).  You are in the driver's seat of your mind. You can steer it backward or forward. You can enjoy the freedom of being in the here and now. Or you can give your thoughts your emotional power. So be mindful of where you are and what time it is. Remember how our minds can empower our feelings. Leave the past in the past. Your power is in the present. And your future depends on it. (But don't worry about the future. It hasn't arrived yet). Happy dance.