Our emotions are like the waves of the ocean - they can be calm and serene, or wild and tumultuous. But just like the ocean, we must know when our emotions have had enough.
It's all too easy to find ourselves in situations where our emotions are off the charts. In those moments, we say and do things that we later regret. That's why it's crucial to have a clearly defined line in the sand and to ensure that we ourselves never cross it.
If you're in the presence of someone who's annoying you to the point of no return, it's better to make a graceful exit. It takes real courage to look at yourself and assess your emotional state, but it's a habit that we must cultivate if we want to lead fulfilling lives.
At the end of the day, we need to know ourselves - what triggers us, what makes us feel good, and what doesn't. It's unfair to expect other people to make us happy. Instead, we should focus on promoting the positive and reducing the negative in ourselves and those around us.
When someone triggers negative emotions within us, it's easy to see them as an obstacle to our happiness. But what if we looked at them as our teachers instead? What if we saw every person who challenges us as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of ourselves?
Of course, we shouldn't subject ourselves to suffering needlessly. We must recognise when to exit before a situation becomes unbearable. But once we've made that choice, we can reflect on what happened and try to make sense of it.
Our emotions are an indicator of something that's unresolved. By investigating them, we can let go of the negative feelings that hold us back. In doing so, we can develop genuine self-awareness and become more aware of others, too. With that awareness comes inner strength and serenity - the keys to lasting happiness.
So let's be bold-hearted and transform everything in our lives into a teacher. When we do that, our lives become the teaching - and that's where true wisdom lies..
Daniel Troyak is a Mindfulness-based Therapist.
With his support, unpack and unravel the contents of the mind.
Learn the tools for emotional processing and healing so you can live a happy, calm and peaceful life.