Tonglen: the best way to reduce stress.
Why pushing feelings away doesn’t work
Our basic instinct is to push away what doesn’t feel good. We want it out of our bodies, out of our minds. The crushing sense of anxiety in my chest isn’t something I want to make space for: I want to get rid of it, and I want to get rid of it now!
But that isn’t how it works. The harder you push it away, either by getting mad at yourself for being stressed or just denying the sensation, the more it persists.
Tonglen
In this episode, Laura introduces Tonglen as a way to work with stress instead of pushing it away.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t pushing away stress work?
Because the harder you push it away, whether by getting mad at yourself or denying the sensation, the more it persists.
What practice does this episode cover?
Tonglen. Laura continues in Master Your Emotional Life Part 2.