Create Awareness and Find Emotional Relief in 4 Simple Steps

It is Friday evening, a few years ago.

I am on my way to the synagogue, and I notice discomfort I'm carrying with me. It has been there for a few hours- a negative feeling, which I cannot understand, and I'm not sure how to overcome.

Then I I ask myself, "Haggai, since when have you been feeling this?".

"Aha, since... well".

"And what was happening when the feeling started?".

"Aha, it started when...".

And I continue with the "investigation," "And what was going through my mind at that moment?".

"That…".

When I realize what the issue is, suddenly it hits me: "Aha, is that all it is?! It's so irrelevant! That's why I feel this way? Ridiculous...".

And to my dismay, the negative feeling diminished in intensity by about 80%!

Awareness of emotions can alleviate the charge simply by understanding what I'm dealing with, because the nagging feeling of "why do I feel this way?" is gone. Beyond that, when we can examine the validity of our thoughts, this often eases the feeling.

How do you do this? Simply ask yourself:

1. Since when have I been feeling this way?

2. What was going through my mind?

3. What is the feeling I'm feeling? Give the feeling a name.

4. Is it possible that I am exaggerating in my interpretation?

Good luck!