Feelings. Same reaction as thoughts?

[James123]

Thanks to FPIAFW I have come to learn exactly what happens in the brain when a negative mental image comes to mind, and more importantly, how to react to these false truths. So I just wondering how you guys react to emotions and feelings which sometimes come in waves over your mind and body during the day?

Is it the exact same as to how you react to thoughts? For example, a wave of frustration, feeling tearful or anger fills your being, do you just notice it, tell yourself its just an emotion, that you are not your emotions and then gently bring your awareness back to the present moment?

[Cheesus]

Feelings can be difficult to deal with, especially if they are particularly strong. There are different ways that different traditions teach, some promote neutral, non-judgemental observation - watching the feelings unfold and move. Others differ, for instance the approach to emotions that I take is usually to feel the emotion's corresponding physical sensation in the body and to cradle it gently in compassion.

Instead of neutrality, observation and non-judgementality, this approach is compassionate and immersive. The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and each are perhaps applicable at different times.

I have found that grounding myself in the body is really beneficial when it comes to emotions, as it takes away an element of abstraction.