I find it interesting how malleable my belief is, relative to whatever I’m feeling in the present moment. If I’m feeling positive, I truly believe in potential and possibility. If I’m feeling negative, hopelessness and cynicism taint everything I do.
I work with this dynamic by focusing on allowance and validation of whatever I’m feeling, which leads back to neutrality/emptiness/flow. After a bit of abidance in this state, I’ll naturally experience a default positivity.
I have been contemplating the concept of equanimity, too. My outlook seems to be too tied to external stimulus. It is good to see others grappling with similar challenges.
Negativity – however deep – is simply an indicator that something needs to be ‘fixed’. But that thing may be outside our ability to influence – for now. Sometimes it’s social rules that block us, as when a toddler has a tantrum or a teenager screams, “It’s so unfair!”. Sometimes it’s “natural physics”, such as a body that cannot meet our demands. As adults, we *make* society; we *make* the rules. But still we may rail against the constraints that others represent. The point we often miss is that – even if we face “natural physics” – we also own the decision that something needs to be fixed. We miss the fact that we can transform and reverse that decision. And when we do ‘own’ that decision, we naturally create positivity in the pace of prior negativity. We may generate acceptance, or forgiveness – or we may generate a will to strive.There are plenty of inspiring people who have done just that: owned the decision.
Hi Kent, I really like what you said here…and you made me grin when I read your self-appraisal as an “over thinker”. Good heavens, if I could change that one thing about myself I’d be happy All the Time–no wonder I’ve been exhausted for 71 years!
As far as the alternating mood changes, whether they’re prompted by externals or what’s inside–it’s wearying. I learned years ago that I’m responsible for my happines (which didn’t seem like good news at the time, I confess…that, along with the newsflash that Life Is Unfair, did little to alleviate my depression & anxiety)–theoretically, I can change my mood from negative to positive.
I depend on my faith mostly–and I have a great portrait on my wall which shows Jesus laughing…so I figure, if He’s laughing, whatever I’m irritated or distressed about can’t be worth my energy!
I hope I’ve not jabbered too much–but I need to say “thank you”: every blog I’ve ever had since 2011, you’ve showed up to click a Like on something, and I’ve not been responsive. I’ll try to do better this time around. God bless you.
Bless you too! That’s some good stuff, the laughter energy. I’m glad you’re focusing more on it. If there’s anything in life worth practicing, that’s definitely one of them!
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Oh, what a profound reflection! Embracing the ebb and flow of our emotions with such awareness truly invites a deeper connection with ourselves, doesn’t it?
I tend to follow the same pattens when it comes to emotions, how I feel is how I experience the world, I guess it shows us that the power really lies within. It is also important to validate emotions as you experience them, unlike you if I am feeling negative, I tend to spiral and have to refocus on the positive to get out of the negative cycle, but I guess I have also realized that releasing emptions, crying, throwing tantrums (pillows) etc. actually does make you feel better at the end so yeah, I hear what you are saying LOL.
Kent Wayne 
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