When You’re Really Mad or Sad, Practice Awareness

It’s easy to say “Practice Awareness” but it’s actually not that easy to do. Our minds our usually whirring along as fast a hummingbird’s heartbeat (which, if you didn’t know, is really really fast) so it’s pretty easy to ignore all the random thoughts and usually useless information going by.

One way to learn to practice awareness is when you’re really emotional about something. If you’re really angry or really sad take a moment to listen to what your little voice is saying. Chances are once you start to focus on it, it’s going to quiet down a little bit. It’s almost like it gets embarrassed that it’s been caught talking in class or something.

Only you will know what it’s saying in this moment of high emotion but I can almost guarantee that it’s only adding to the drama.

Let’s say you’re angry at your parents for not letting you do something you want to do.

Your little voice probably sounds something like this:

“I can’t believe they’re not letting me go! Who do they think they are? I’m a good kid and this is how they treat me? I don’t deserve this. I am so over this.” and on and on and on.

Before you know it, you’re even more annoyed than before and that actually isn’t helping you or the situation at all. You’d be better off taking a deep breath, giving yourself a moment to calm down and then either trying to talk to your parents again or just letting it go. Whatever you decide, deciding on your own and not reacting to the little voice in your head is bound to be a better decision.

So, if you want to start practicing and getting better at becoming aware of the little voice in your head, start listening when your emotions are high. It will make it easier to catch that little voice at work in your everyday life when it can really do a lot of damage.