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January 16, 2025 13 mins

The Dalai Lama said, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” To me, the quote means that experiencing pain, physical and emotional, is a natural and unavoidable part of life, but whether or not we experience suffering as a result of that pain is a choice that we can make. In other words, we can choose to let the pain control and consume us, causing suffering, or we can choose to accept the pain and manage it in a healthy and constructive way.

Managing how we feel and react to people, circumstances, and situations can reduce our suffering. You are in charge of how you feel. 

I’m sure you are familiar with the term, “You choose how you react”. Actually, it’s not 100% true as our limbic system is always on the lookout for trouble and anything that would be a threat so you may initially experience a fight or flight response. However, you can stop, take a breath or two, and calmly reconsider your response, there may be some facts you weren’t aware of, and therefore take charge of how you feel.
 
Do not listen to this episode while driving or operating machinery.

Your affirmations:

  1. I am in charge of how I feel
  2. I choose thoughts that give me control of how I feel
  3. I decide how I want to feel

Say your affirmations 5 times each as a set. Repeat your set of affirmations at least once a day.  The more you use them the bigger the impact. Add them to a habit that you do every day.  While cleaning your teeth, driving, running, walking your dog, washing the dishes, when you first wake up, or the last thing at night.
 
Your self-reflection questions are:

  1. In what situations do my emotions work against me? 
  2. When I lose control of my emotions, what happens?
  3. How would my life be changed if I had more control over my emotions?

Use these reflection questions to delve a little deeper and get to know yourself better. You can use them as prompts for journaling, during meditation or just give yourself a few moments of time to consider.

Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you!

You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page.

Disclaimer
The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here.

Getting to know Sallie Crawley
Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

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