Negative Emotions, Dealing with Discomfort & Becoming Your Own Ruler

The Mindful Minute

By Pema Sherpa & Brendan Barca

Age-old wisdom for modern living. Each week you'll get 1 quote, 1 reflection and 1 action to help you lead a calmer, clearer, and more conscious life.

Quote:

“Ultimately, happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them." - Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Reflection:

Mental afflictions, known in Buddhist philosophy as kleshas or defilements, are the negative emotions that, to some extent, rule us all. They're our pride, anger, jealousy, craving, anxiety, and aversion. Some afflictions may plague us more than others. Maybe you just can't control your rage. Or maybe you can't help but feel envious of the people who seem better off.

Dealing with these emotions can be uncomfortable so we have a tendency to ignore them or only face them when they flare up, when it's already too late. But how can we be happy if we go on living this way? If we let our anger, pride, or jealousy take us over whenever they want what kind of life is that? Sustainable happiness is only possible if, as Buddhist master Yongey Mingyur describes here, we start to become aware of and manage our afflictions. Yes, dealing with our negative emotions can create discomfort, but the alternative is the discomfort of letting them rule us forever.

Action:

Today, make it a practice to note whenever a negative emotion bubbles up in you. Don't try to chase it away, but try not to indulge in it either. Examine it as best as you can. Watch how it tries to rule you. This awareness of what's happening inside of you is the first step to becoming the ruler of your own mind.

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Have a mindful Wednesday and see you next week!

- Pema & Brendan

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