Know how to Minimise Negative Emotions

Chapter 5 explains how to remove mental blocks. The next step is to minimise remaining negative emotions. If a person reacts with emotion, it means that others are able to affect his mood. Reaction is within the respondent’s control. None should hand over his power to anyone else. The attitude should be, ‘they say; they may say; let them say.’

Anger develops from a provocation and continues due to successive provocations. Information that is pleasant or opposite to the one presumed can remove anger. Lessening the desire or providing an alternative satisfaction prevents anger. A proverb says, “Two things a man should never get angry at: what he can help and what he cannot.” ‘A soft answer turns the anger away.’ A quick analysis of thoughts that triggered anger may show that there was no justification to be angry. Then, it is best to ignore anger and forget the incident. Relaxation helps. However, anger will continue if the thoughts proceed on the lines that triggered the anger. A person should neither suppress anger nor act on it. It is best to ignore it and forget the incident. Often, frustration is due to the reaction to a hindrance. One solution is to go round the hindrance and find an alternative path to the goal. When speaking in anger, one should substitute the word ‘you’ with ‘I’ and change the sentence.

Grief is due to distress or its recollection. Helping and enjoying without attachment prevent it. However, without attachment to the long-term need, there can be no motivation. Non-attachment to objects and results other than the goal helps. Performance as duty without attachment too helps.

Lust is to take; love prevents it by giving, instead of taking. Shame is due to the feeling of inadequacy. A sense of humour, that nothing in the world is perfect, prevents it.