From the morningâs high to the afternoonâs low.
That is a vital clarification that moves the discussion from a metaphysical theory to a mechanical reality. If we assume the observer is a separate entity standing on a platform, we are just creating a new, more subtle ego to hide behind. In reality, the change occurs through a shift in the brain's processing modes rather than a change in location. You are essentially moving from a narrative mode of processing to an experiential one.
In the narrative mode, the brain uses the default mode network to link every emotion to a story about a central self, which is why joy feels like a personal victory and despair feels like a personal failure. This linkage is what creates the "drunk" feeling of high joy and the "crushing" weight of despair. When you practice what we call observation, you are actually just deactivating that narrative self-referential loop. The emotion still exists as a raw biological event, but it is no longer being "owned" by a story. It is the difference between a wave crashing onto a rigid sea wall versus a wave passing through a permeable net. The net is still in the water, and the water is still moving, but there is no solid surface for the wave to break against.
The stability comes from this lack of friction. By reducing the identification with the narrative, you aren't stepping off the ride; you are simply removing the rigid constraints that cause the jarring impact of the turns. The system becomes more fluid, allowing the energy of the morningâs high to transition into the afternoonâs low without the mechanical stress of a self trying to grab onto one or push away the other. This isn't about finding a fixed point of peace but about realizing that when the "clutch" is disengaged, the engine can rev high or low without moving the whole car.
This mechanical shift works because it prevents the secondary reaction from gaining traction. When you don't use the joy to build up a "happy person" identity, there is no "happy person" to be destroyed when the despair arrives. The "becoming nothing" is actually the dismantling of these rigid mental structures. You remain fully present within the experience, but because the processing is direct and experiential rather than narrative and personal, the "roller coaster" loses its power to cause grief. You are still the ride, but you are no longer the victim of it.
