{"id":974,"date":"2014-09-15T06:30:42","date_gmt":"2014-09-15T10:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/blog\/?p=974"},"modified":"2026-02-09T20:54:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:54:23","slug":"meditate-yucky-feelings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/meditate-yucky-feelings\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Hate, Meditate: The Perfect Antidote to All Our Mental ‘Yuck’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meditation changed my life\u2026like for real. People can throw that \u2018life-changing\u2019 sentiment around quite easily without really meaning it, but I\u2019m not exaggerating in the least.<\/span><\/p>\n

When people ask me what they can do to make positive changes, and just feel better overall, this tip shares the top spot with studying the Law of Attraction<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There seems to be a growing interest in this ancient practice. I think this is partly due to meditation getting more attention in Western research, and the fact the overall consciousness of people is expanding on a global level.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything starts in our minds\u2014our beliefs, thoughts and feelings form the core of our experience. They are the starting point for every decision we make, and determine what becomes of our lives. For the most part, what is going on upstairs is really doing a number on us and causing unnecessary suffering.<\/span><\/p>\n

The raging river of thoughts that rushes through our mind during our waking hours holds us hostage; we believe we are at the mercy of our a-hole brains, but that can be reversed.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to find a way to deal with the negative emotions that are part and parcel of the human experience, I can\u2019t think of a better approach than meditating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before I dive into things, check out this short video if you so desire with a quick thought on meditating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breaks Habitual Reactions<\/span><\/h2>\n

We all know the drill\u2014something happens we don\u2019t like, and within a split second, we are reacting in a way that causes us lots of pain. It leads us to make hasty decisions, or say and do things that we don\u2019t mean, make the problem worse, create a whole new host of crappy feelings like embarrassment or regret, or just generally bring more crap into our experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

At these moments, we feel we truly have no control over how we react. We naturally have a preference for situations that make us feel good, and we feel quite justified<\/em><\/strong> in reacting the way we do.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, I\u2019ll bet you really don\u2019t like how this habit of reacting is playing out in your day-to-day experience. You would probably like to feel better, not get so worked up about things and handle these situations with a bit more grace and ease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, you\u2019ll be happy to know this is totally possible for you, and that meditating is probably the most effective way to break this habit of reaction, and move into the space of responding. Responding is very different\u2014it comes from a place of greater calm and clarity. Anger and other negative feelings are not a requirement.
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The reason we engage in this way is a complete lack of awareness about what is going on in our heads. We are living on auto-pilot. We have no control over our thoughts and feelings\u2014something pops in and we get swept away in the current of shit river.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meditation helps increase this awareness, and rather than instantaneously reacting to the first thoughts and feelings that make an appearance, you stop for a second and tune into what you are experiencing. There is a space you have created that allows you to observe what is happening.<\/span><\/p>\n

And in this space, you can choose how you will proceed.<\/em><\/strong> You can weigh your options; you can see the issue more clearly and what is really going on. <\/em><\/strong>Any negative feeling you may have will likely lose its intensity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, does this mean you will always make the Buddha-like choice, and respond as a spiritual master would to the myriad experiences that can potentially sour your day? Probably not–I sure don’t. But, that’s okay. Remember, we are just working on being better, not perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allows You to Figure out Why You Feel and Think What You Do<\/span><\/h2>\n

One thing I realized when I started this whole personal development rigamarole is I had a lot of negative feelings and thoughts, but I wasn\u2019t quite sure where they originated. I knew I felt badly, but I wasn\u2019t quite sure why. <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And one of the reasons we don\u2019t know the answer to this question is because we are so disconnected from ourselves. Meditation helps us reconnect, and oh the insights you will have, and not just when you are actively sitting, but as you go about your day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Things will click; you will make connections you have never made. Things will become so clear and obvious, and you will wonder how you never figured it out before. Once you figure out where all this \u2018stuff\u2019 originated ,and what triggers it, you are well on your way to finding effective solutions for dealing with these issues, and in some cases, getting rid of them altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will have a better idea of what changes you need to make in your life to make yourself feel better and adopt a more positive train of thought. Your path will become clearer. You\u2019ll find ways to more effectively deal with your \u2018stuff\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, the goal here is not totally eradicating every negative thought and feeling\u2014though I suppose some people can do that\u2014but to just reduce them ,loosen their grip on you, minimize their impact and handle them better. Always remember to be compassionate with yourself on this little journey of change.
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Helps You Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our disdain for less-than-pleasant feelings really causes us all sorts of trouble. No one likes feeling badly, and our first impulse is to make them go away as quickly as possible. Nothing wrong with that\u2014the only problem is, the courses of action we gravitate towards tend to add to our suffering in some way, either in the immediate moment or on a grander scale.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing is permanent, including our thoughts and feelings. This is one of those things where what we KNOW and what we FEEL are very different. And in that moment, the yuck feels eternal because it consumes us; we can’t see past it, and reality becomes totally distorted.
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Meditation is a great tool for getting more comfortable with uncomfortable feelings; it increases our awareness of impermanence. A greater awareness of the temporary nature of the ‘yuck’ reduces that overwhelming desire to make it go away at any cost. It keeps us from doing things we know we really don\u2019t want to do, or shouldn’t do, things we may end up regretting, maybe even just a few minutes down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable will keep you from writing a desperate, rambling email to your ex when you experience that overwhelming urge of missing him.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will keep you from polishing off a whole cake when you are feeling a bit stressed after a particularly trying conversation with Mom.<\/span><\/p>\n

It prevents you from telling off your in-laws, and making their visit even more unpleasant, because you realize they are only here once a year, and you can get through a couple of more days.<\/span><\/p>\n

It prevents nasty fights borne of getting all worked up about things that really aren\u2019t that big of a deal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being able to better sit with my uncomfortable feelings has not only prevented me from doing things that I will just end up beating myself up over, it has also allowed me to create my ideal life.<\/span><\/p>\n

By getting comfortable with uncomfortable feelings, you will find the courage to go after what you really want in life; you will not be as affected by the criticism, judgments and opinions of others. You will feel more confident about following your own path, making your own definitions of success and happiness, and molding your life around them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lets You Observe Your Mind like a Third Party<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like I mentioned before, meditation helps create that space that stands between that part of you that is just sheer awareness and consciousness, and our thoughts and feelings. It allows you to see the amazing truth these things are not us, that they are separate entities that just come and go.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Meditation allows you to observe all these burdensome thoughts and feelings without any sort of attachment or judgment. You don\u2019t get all caught up in them. They don\u2019t feel as much like something happening within, but rather outside of you. It is like you are a third party watching everything from a distance. When you move through the world in this way, amazing things happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

You realize how much power you have to mold your internal world. You stop labeling yourself as an \u2018anxious\u2019 person or an \u2018angry\u2019 person. You know these are just feelings and not \u2018you.\u2019 These moments when these feelings surface tend to be less intense.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will become more aware of what you are thinking in a given moment, and when you are going to a \u2018bad place.\u2019 Your \u2018higher self\u2019 intervenes, and you can shift course to a more pleasant stream of thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my own life, this third-party view of my dealings has particularly helped me see when I am being kind of ridiculous about things. I tend to get annoyed by weird stuff, and these days, I usually see the \u2018error of my ways\u2019 before I even finish my complaint-laden sentence. Oh, I still finish it mind you, but I\u2019m already laughing at myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Tips to Get You Started<\/span><\/h2>\n

So, now that I\u2019ve made an awesome case for why meditating is the ultimate tool for dealing with all the crap jacking up our happiness, I wanted to leave you with a few tips to aid you on your meditation journey, because I know you are going to jump right on this, right???? Right.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, it\u2019s okay to start off slowly\u2014even just five minutes. The key is to get comfortable with the practice, and diving right into long stretches probably will turn you off from meditating.<\/span><\/p>\n

There really is no one best time, though right in the morning can be particularly effective. Finding a specific time to get into the groove is usually a good idea to develop the habit, but I would suggest in the beginning to sit based on when you are feeling inspired to do so\u2014it makes you more likely to sit the allotted time, and feel good about it. Though if you are the type of person who responds well to self-imposed declarations, by all means commit to doing it at a specific time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accept whatever happens during your sit\u2014sometimes you will feel like you are connecting with \u2018\u2019all that is\u2019\u2019 ,sometimes you will feel like nothing is happening and sometimes you will just feel kind of crappy. This is true even for people who have been doing it for years, though over time, you will generally experience more \u2018cool stuff\u2019 on a consistent basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of people find they go through periods of meditating for awhile and then falling off the wagon for a bit, and then starting again. This is normal. So if you start doing it for a week, then give up, but then feel the urge to start trying again a month from now, do it. Don\u2019t look at your past experience of quitting and conclude it isn\u2019t for you. It can take a bit until it becomes a regular practice and something you feel you \u2018can\u2019t live without.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Meditation can be part of a spiritual practice or just a totally practical tool, so for those of you worrying it will turn you into some sort of hippie weirdo, that is not likely to happen. Though, you’ll probably look at people like that–which is kind of what I am like– in a new light, and realize they may be onto something. \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n

Please leave me a comment. Would love to hear your thoughts on this post. What challenges have you had with meditating? Do you have any fears about it? If you already practice, what benefits have you gotten so far? What tips would you give to newbies? Till next time…<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meditation changed my life\u2026like for real. People can throw that \u2018life-changing\u2019 sentiment around quite easily without really meaning it, but I\u2019m not exaggerating in the least. When people ask me what they can do to make positive changes, and just feel better overall, this tip shares the top spot with studying the Law of Attraction. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[20,30,23,33],"class_list":["post-974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meditation","tag-anxiety","tag-clarity","tag-meditation-2","tag-pain"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=974"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/974\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13046,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/974\/revisions\/13046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livelifemadetoorder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}