Emotions are often compared with natural phenomena. Feelings can and rage, like a sea storm, and subside, becoming like a lake surface. However, the modern world dictates its own rules as to which behavior is more beneficial or acceptable in a particular situation. How to gain power over your emotions so that they are not destructive energy, but carry a creative function?
Learn to meditate.
Not everyone understands exactly the meaning of this currently widely used term. A condition that remotely resembles meditation arises when one is fond of this or that subject. For example, when a person is engaged in a favorite business, or watches an interesting film.
When practicing meditation, the mind plunges into an altered state, which can be characterized as something between a dream and a wakefulness. Meditation is used for many purposes - finding peace and mental balance, enhancing attention, self-knowledge. But how can it be useful for the task of learning to control yourself?
Meditative practice is that there is a constant return of attention from the emerging thoughts in the direction of the subject of meditation. This process is always involved volitional mechanism. Over time, those who practice meditation notice an increase in self-control. The only nuances are the regularity of classes and their duration over time - to achieve the first results different people need from 4 to 8 weeks of regular practice.
Master the autogenic training.
For the first time this concept was proposed by the German doctor I. Schulz in the early 20th century. Until now, auto-training in a state of relaxation does not lose its relevance. By its qualities, the autogenic state is reminiscent of meditation - a person is in a state of tranquility and relaxation.
In short, the practice of autogenic training includes the complete relaxation of all the muscles of the body and the subsequent suggestions against the background of this relaxation. Self-hypnosis can relate to how to learn to control yourself, and other areas of life. In our case, in a state of muscular relaxation, you can instill the following commands in yourself: "I completely control myself," "I have iron will power," "my emotions are always in my power."
Other advantages of the practice of auto-training are the reduction of general tension and anxiety, the elimination of fatigue, the development of various abilities.
Develop willpower.
This process will require serious effort. The easiest way to develop the will is to do what you don’t want: get up early, play sports, do the dishes when you want to lie down on the sofa. You can practice, restraining from unnecessary purchases. Gradually increasing the ability to control yourself, over time you will notice that emotions become easier to control.
The chance to strengthen the power of will arises when there is a desire to "give up everything." For example, you see a bright signboard offering a new phone at a discount. Moreover, his acquisition a minute ago was not at all part of your plans. But bright advertising seduces on this purchase, despite the fact that after its commission will have to significantly save money. It is this moment that is the most suitable for training volitional muscle.
Learn to observe emotions without giving in to them.
Notice how the mood improves or worsens. If you have any strong enough experiences, ask yourself about their reasons. After all, controlling emotions does not mean pretending that they do not exist at all. Feeling sadness, anger, jealousy or irritation, say to yourself: "Yes, I do not like these experiences. But I feel very sad at the moment." The next step is to recognize the causes of this emotion. "Yes, now I feel sad, because I have suffered a failure at work, this month I will not be able to receive an award."
Such work with emotions is necessary not in order to try to rationalize your life, but for a deeper understanding of their nature. By identifying experiences, recognizing their presence, you will more easily manage them.
How to learn to control your emotions to someone whose previous life was held in the power of Shakespearean passions and endless experiences? The answer is simple - start small, training the ability to volitional regulation, controlling your attention and physical condition. Anyone who is able to defeat small victories over himself will be able to further develop a sufficiently serious endurance.
See also:
What if everything infuriates and annoys
6 ways: how to hide your emotions
