Acknowledge Thoughts and Emotions

Introduction

Bringing awareness to thoughts and emotions is essential for better wellbeing. Emotions that are held-down or ignored can lead to illness and disease in the body.

Acknowledgment is only the beginning

The first step is to notice thoughts and emotions that are present in your experience. Secondly, allow those feelings to exist. This simply means that you “allow” what is occurring in the moment. Third, notice how the thought or emotion feels in the body. Notice what is happening.

Choose your response

Once you have acknowleded a thought or emotion, allowed it to be there, and noticed how it feels, you then have the opportunity to choose your response.

Pay Attention

ACKNOWLEDGE THOUGHTS & EMOTIONS

When you acknowledge thoughts and emotions, you have more choice and control over outcomes. You may have been taught that your emotions or thoughts were not okay. First of all, thoughts and emotions just are. They are neither good, nor bad. They are part of the human experience. How you react to them determines whether the outcomes are helpful or harmful.

A mindful approach to thoughts and emotions can change your world. Noticing how you respond to thoughts and emotions is a big step in the right direction.

Thoughts are just part of what the mind does to keep itself occupied. If you’re not paying attention to a thought it will turn into a different thought. And a thought has no power, in and of itself. It only has the power that you give it.

Emotions need to be felt. Bring a sense of curiosity to what you are feeling. Once the feeling moves through you, it can be released in peace.

PRACTICE

Try this today:

Pause three times during the day.

What am I feeling right now?
What is happening in my body?
What are my thoughts telling me about this emotion?

Reflect:

Take one slow breath and quietly ask yourself:

What emotions do I keep myself from feeling?

Activity:

The next time you feel a strong emotion, pause. Identify the feeling:

I feel __________ (happy, sad, stressed, etc.)
Get a piece of paper and a pencil or crayons and draw what it looks like.

Key Takeaways:

Emotions that are pushed away or denied can lead to illness and disease.
You can improve your well-being by changing the way you relate to thoughts and emotions,
Allowing thoughts and emotions to exist gives you the opportunity to choose a healthy response.
Thoughts and emotions are neither good nor bad. They just are.
When you allow yourself to notice and feel what you are feeling, the emotions can move through you.