I consider myself a pretty articulate person. I know how to describe my feelings very well and I have a great sense of what words will accurately explain my thoughts at any one time. I’m one of those people that do not think before I talk and know exactly what I want to say, immediately as it pops into my head. And on the flip side, I have the ability to use my skills for evil and outwit my opponent through vocabulary and speed (although I really try not to!) Anybody close to me can tell you, I use my words to define me. Even right now. These very words I am typing are defining me – stating to the world that I am articulate.
But lately I realized that being quick to describe and label my feelings have been an interesting hindrance.
Fact of the matter is, there is a difference between feeling something with your heart, and knowing it in your mind. For example, when I feel achiness and heaviness in my heart, my mind instantly labels it as “sad”. Then I spend the next few minutes, hours, days, figuring out exactly why I am sad, what made me sad, how I can correct my sad. I preoccupy myself with the details of this sadness. What I often neglect is to just SIT with my sadness. To notice exactly how my heart feels. To bring my awareness to my body and observe (not LABEL) how it’s coping. Giving space for my sadness usually ends up with a resolution much quicker than using my brain to “figure it out”.
I am sure I am not the only one that hides behind the mind. We just have to remember that analyzing and thinking are great at work and/or school. But when it comes to our internal practice, it’s best to let the mind rest and just sit with whatever feeling is cursing through your heart. If this sounds an awful lot like meditation… that’s because it is 
Sitting with your heart nestled between your lap like a tender baby will not only calm your soul if you are upset, angry, lonely, depressed, etc, but it will also give space for whatever feeling you didn’t realize you had. If you allow your mind to quickly label your emotion as “angry”, then you might miss something deeper. Your mind gets so caught up in the story of the anger (stupid coworker who just threw you under the bus), that you do not realize that anger was just a cover up for something else (like feeling inadequate that you are not working hard enough).
Now that I am cognizant of my quick labeling capabilities, I am going to do my best to just be aware. To realize that I am labeling, acknowledge that my mind wants to label, and let it go. Push my mind down into my body and sense what my heart wants. What it needs. Does it need some loving? Does it need a little reassurance? And then allow whatever happens to happen at that present moment. And I challenge you to do the same!
Namaste.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:24 am
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!!! and I agree with your post-I get angry a LOT, and then sometime later I discover it was not anger but something else. I REALLY need to work on that.
April 13th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Very true. How often I've gotten mad when it's really sadness. Or hey sometimes I'm just really physically tired and instead of acknowledging that I get mad/sad.Sitting quietly is certainly the key isn't it.
April 13th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
As one who also speaks and then thinks, I find that if I'm connected to my heart (and not my head, well my monkey mind really) labeling is not an issue. it's when I feel inadequate or my self-esteem is low, that's when my judgment comes out.. love love love this post Thais!
April 13th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
I'm very much like you in this aspect! However, for some reason last night I got on my mat already in a funk and as soon as I hit pigeon pose, the tears started falling. At first, I started to question why I was so upset… but then I just went back to my breath and let my tears collect on the mat. I felt refreshed afterwards and still don't know why I was so upset lol.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Beautiful post & pictures. defining and labeling emotions is def limiting. i love your idea of staying more present with them.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
i constantly think and rethink my emotions and deeply consider where they are coming from and what they mean. sitting with my emotions helps me overcome them. i acknowledge, feel, and let go. oh, and breath! always
!
April 13th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
I frequently suggest to clients to develop the habit of sitting in the emotion. It's hard and scary to do, but very beneficial. And usually, the emotion (especially negative) leaves faster then if you try to fight or deny it.
April 15th, 2011 at 1:13 am
Yep, I love to hide behind my mind. I find that I that it is easier or I am more prone to think rather than feel. My fear is that I will be overwhelmed with negative emotion and it will spiral out of control. I try and allow some space each day to check in with my emotions and feel them but it can be hard.
April 25th, 2011 at 12:52 am
I'm very much like you in this aspect! However, for some reason last night I got on my mat already in a funk and as soon as I hit pigeon pose, the tears started falling. At first, I started to question why I was so upset… but then I just went back to my breath and let my tears collect on the mat. I felt refreshed afterwards and still don't know why I was so upset lol.