DETACH

Emotions...swirling all around.  

Something, someone, somewhere always makes you want to lose yourself.

Emotions are tricky, and feeling them is an open invitation to reacting to them.  Actually, scratch that!  Just their presence alone sends out the invite!  Control isn't always an option when it comes to emotions...because first of all, you  need to know what each one means to you. 

I've met people who are unable to identify emotion (me about 7 years ago).  Then, there's the crew that are deeply terrified by emotions, either theirs or someone else.   More human beings than not are just...ya know...a little stuck on the control part of emotions rather than letting them run it's course.  Control is what turns into reaction.  Why?  Because emotions are our own personal tidal waves...and they're not MEANT to be controlled.

So...here's this novel concept.  Detach.  

Very, very, very, very, very simple, no?  No.

More times than not, the emotions and the drama they bring with them don't even belong to you!! Human beings are sensitive to other human beings moods.  And we get caught up.  Good, not so good, or indifferent somehow these emotions become ours and we find ourselves in a reactive phase.

Detachment for me always meant distance.  Running far, far away from emotions...only to have to deal with them at some point in the future.  What detachment means is, really, observance.  Simple observance of what's swirling about in it's natural state. 

When I found myself getting caught up in anothers emotions...I'd mentally pull myself out of the equation.  I'd then imagine all the emotions and drama swirling around a particular person or event swirling away in a cloud of dust blown by the wind.  Sometimes I'd imagine containing the drama in a jar, or a box, or anything that once was closed could never be open again.

By imagining these things, I'd bring a sense of grounded sensibility to MYSELF in the situations I'd find myself in.  No more reaction...just plain ol' clarity!!

Slowly I'd start asking myself about my own emotions and drama's...

*  How is reaction helping?

*  How is it hurting?

*  Is there a pattern?  (am I reacting to the same thing in different clothing)

*  What is it that I'm REALLY reacting to?

And just as slowly as I started to ask myself those questions (...and I mean SLOWLY!  My reaction cycles were vicious until I REALLY started giving them the attention they needed)...a clearer sense of detachment FROM reaction started to occur.

It's been hard, hard work to get to a place where detachment is almost natural (I did say "almost", right?).   But the point is pretty much to START the observations....start the end of the vicious cycle.  If I had to put a couple pennies on it, I'd bet that NONE of us like ourselves in our various reactionary phases, hmmmm?

Take a look.  Take an example....maybe your reactions are mostly at work, directed towards your mother, or a spouse, or a pet, or an ensemble that's making you look fat, or just a flat out bad decision.  Ask yourself the questions above and any others that come to mind.

Once the clouds of judgement and reaction clear....you'll learn a bit about your emotions but in a completely detached state.

...and then a welcomed change.  Peace.