Drama adds excitement to life, but exaggerated emotions can drain mental energy. Instead of getting caught up in these heightened feelings, channelling them into a creative or yogic practice can be a healthier alternative. Here are some ways to navigate through the rough seas of emotions and find that sweet spot – that state of contentment known as Sukha.
Insights from Yogic Philosophy and Neuroscience
Gratitude, acceptance, letting go, suffering, and anxiety—to name a few, are all thoughts that we assign meaning to in our lives and are very real to us. Thoughts include beliefs, past memories, and future projections. According to Vedanta an Eastern philosophical tradition, thoughts are objects or things that arise within our consciousness, much like anything else we perceive through our senses. Everything that exists was once someone’s thought.
How we think of things mixed in with our wants, needs and desires can create a whirlpool of thoughts and beliefs, and how we interpret our thoughts is tied directly to our senses and our memories of past experiences, this triggers emotions. Sometimes, we become attached to thoughts, allowing them to influence our emotional states and shape our identity. This attachment is not limited to negative experiences; even positive thoughts can become integral to who we think we are.
Our brains—the hard drives of nervous systems—play a pivotal role in this attachment. Chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate pleasure and mood, influence our emotional experiences. When we cling to certain emotions, whether joyful or painful, our brain chemistry reinforces these attachments, sometimes leading to imbalances. Whilst natural fluctuations in our emotional states are expected—we are after all beings inhabiting bodies having a myriad of experiences—extremes can be harmful.
Understanding the science behind emotional attachment sheds further light on this journey. For example, prolonged stress elevates cortisol levels while depleting serotonin, leading to anxiety and depression. Emotional attachments also involve oxytocin, which strengthens connections but can create unhealthy dependency if not managed mindfully. By practising detachment from both suffering and attachment, we can restore balance and healthier emotional responses over time.
Your Helper the Ego
Continually identifying too closely with pain or seeking validation through it can lead to cycles of suffering. At the core of this struggle is the ego—the part of us that forms our identity. While essential for survival and self-perception, the ego is not the entirety of who we are. Recognizing that identity is a construct shaped by external influences yet ultimately under our control can be incredibly empowering.
Thoughts are things.
Just as we must understand that the ego is our servant and not our master, it is crucial to remember that you are not your thoughts. Thoughts are transient objects that come and go within your mind, and attaching to them too tightly often leads to unnecessary suffering.
Vedanta teaches that thoughts, while significant, do not define us. By recognizing their impermanence and embracing our true selves as part of a greater whole—the ineffable aka vast consciousness—we can cultivate peace and balance. Yet, knowing you are not your thoughts is helpful but not always practical, so what do we do when we find ourselves in these extremes?
We can find the middle way. Philosophical traditions across cultures often emphasise finding a “middle way” or balance to navigate life more effectively. When we are “in” the extremes we suffer, and it feels almost impossible to find that middle ground. But it isn’t hopeless. Balance is where we find contentment or Sukha, a consistent state of joy. There are many ways to get to this place of contentment and all of them require practice.
Practice is the way that anyone becomes great at something. Sure there are natural inclinations or talents that we possess but greatness comes from practice. Practicing art, journaling, writing poetry, dancing, yoga postures, and listening to or creating music are just some of the things that you can practice to help pull yourself out of extreme emotional states. There are so many ways we can help ourselves, we only need to begin.
Reprogramming through yogic and creative artistic practices can lead us to profound personal transformation.
In yoga, the practice encourages self-awareness and mindfulness. This awareness helps break negative thought cycles, fostering a more balanced nervous system and allowing us to observe our thoughts and emotions without becoming overly attached to them. This detachment is crucial for transcending the limitations of the ego (referred to as Asmita in yogic philosophy).
Yoga offers practical tools to regulate the nervous system and promote balance in both mind and body. Practices like asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath control), and focused concentration shift the body into a state of relaxation, counteracting the stress-induced fight-or-flight response. Research shows that yoga fosters emotional resilience by reducing cortisol levels and increasing the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin. These biochemical changes create a sense of calm and safety, equipping practitioners to handle stress more effectively. Pranayama, in particular, activates the vagus nerve, which regulates heart rate and induces relaxation. But the real power of yoga is found in the space it creates that allows us to explore our inner selves, fostering a deeper connection with our true nature—pure consciousness.
Regular practice helps to dismantle the false identities constructed by the ego, revealing a more authentic self that is not defined by external circumstances or societal expectations. Similarly, artistic practices such as painting, writing, or music allow us to express our individuality and emotions creatively, providing an outlet for feelings that might otherwise contribute to ego-based suffering.
Artistic expression encourages us to explore our inner experiences in a safe and constructive manner. Channelling anxiety, stress, and other emotions into creative outlets such as collage, painting, journaling, writing, music, or dance can significantly regulate the nervous system and foster emotional balance. Engaging in these forms of expression allows us to process our feelings in a non-verbal way, tapping into parts of the brain that may not be easily accessed through traditional talk therapy. This creative process can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, promoting a shift from the sympathetic state—characterized by fight-or-flight responses—to the parasympathetic state, which encourages relaxation and recovery. As people engage in artistic activities, they often experience a release of pent-up emotions, leading to reduced levels of stress hormones like cortisol and an increase in neurotransmitters associated with well-being, such as serotonin.
Artistic expression serves as a powerful tool for reprogramming the ego by facilitating emotional release and self-discovery. When we channel our experiences into creative endeavours, we can confront and process underlying emotions that may be tied to identity. The act of creation not only fosters healing but also reinforces the understanding that one’s identity is fluid and can evolve over time. As we engage in these practices, we may find ourselves stepping outside of rigid self-definitions, embracing a broader sense of being that transcends the limitations imposed by the ego. By actively engaging in yogic or artistic practices we cultivate a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, encouraging a shift from an isolated sense of identity to an expansive awareness of shared human experience, and improve our mental health. Through this journey, we can develop a more balanced and resilient sense of self that honours both our unique qualities and our interconnectedness with others.
To live a balanced life, it’s crucial to remember that you are the light and potential behind your thoughts. By embracing practices like yoga and creativity, we can transcend attachment, manage emotions, and rediscover the vastness of our true selves. Through this awareness, we can navigate life with greater clarity and resilience, and find joy and contentment – the sweet spot we call Sukha.
Glossary
Asmita – the integration of consciousness with cognitive processes.
Sukha – the word itself has many meanings but essentially it means contentment, tranquillity, and the alleviation of sorrow.
Vedanta – A philosophical system based particularly on the Upaniṣads which are a large part of the Vedas (philosophical texts) Furthermore, the Hinduism section of Wikipedia, describes the mystical teachings in Vedanta as tollows:
The mystic teachings in Vedanta are centred on a fundamental truth of the universe that cannot be reduced to a concept or word for the ordinary mind to manipulate. Rather, the human experience and mind are themselves a tiny fragment of this truth. In this tradition, no mind-object can be identified as absolute truth, such that one may say, “That’s it.” So, to keep the mind from attaching to incomplete fragments of reality, a speaker could use this term to indicate that truth is “Not that.”
Practical advice:
How to get out of a thought loop.
With an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 thoughts each day, many rooted in past experiences or future worries, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. When stuck in repetitive thought patterns, ask yourself: Who is thinking these thoughts? Where do they originate? And where do they go when I stop focusing on them? Acknowledging the transient nature of thoughts without repression allows for greater clarity and understanding.
If you are still stuck, you can dump out the jibberish and mental garbage in your mind through journaling or any of the practices mentioned in this article. Even though we cannot control others or sometimes are not able to change our circumstances or events that have happened, know that you are a powerful being and have the power to change your mind.