When we struggle against our emotions, we end up in a vicious cycle only making things worse. For example, when we have anxiety, and thing about ow much we do not want it to be there, we get anxious about our anxiety! When the anxiety gets worse, we may turn sad or angry, further spiralling down the cycle of despair.
When our ‘struggle switch’ is off, we acknowledge it and allow it to be there. The struggle switch is an emotion amplifier, prompting us to pull out all our struggle strategies. Turn it off, and…
- our emotions can freely flow through us;
- we do not waste time and energy, meaning we can invest it in more meaningful and productive actions; and
- we avoid additional suffering.
Leave it on and…
- our emotions get stuck and hang around for longer;
- we waste a lot of time and energy struggling with them; and
- we amplify them and create unnecessary pain.
