Disturbing Presence

A bird gets up every morning and sings its song. It does not wait to hear what other birds are singing, nor does it look to see if another bird is getting more notice. It knows its song innately and sings. This is nature: knowing your own song.

Swan lake.

Moose Falls on Crawfish Creek, southern YNP.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by our emotions, and we forget we are much more than our emotions. When a strong emotion comes up, we can say, “Hello, my emotion. I know you are there. I will take care of you." Practice mindful, deep, abdominal breathing. Sit down or lie down. Put your hand on your abdomen, just below the navel, and breathe in very deeply, breathe out very deeply. Become aware of the rising and falling of your belly. Stop all thinking, just focus on your breath and your abdomen.

Breathing in, my abdomen is rising. Breathing out, my abdomen is falling.

The more you think about what has upset you, the stronger your emotion will become. So keep bringing your awareness back to your breath as it goes down into the abdomen and out again. Feel the abdomen rising and falling as the air goes in and out. Know that you can handle the storm in you. You are much more than one emotion.

- Thich Nhat Hanh