“In a time of anger or despair, even if we feel overwhelmed, our love is still there.
Our capacity to communicate, to forgive, to be compassionate is still there.
You have to believe this.
We are more than our anger, we are more than our suffering.
We must recognize that we do have within us the capacity to love, to understand, to be compassionate, always.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I read the beautiful quote above at Val Boydo’s “Find Your Middle Ground” blog this morning.

It reminded me of the practice to ‘see’ my emotions as being something present in that moment, but not the entirety of who I am. That when I’m feeling anger, or pain, or despair, to quietly repeat to myself:

“Oh look. Anger is here… So is love.”

“Oh look. Despair is here… So is love.”

“Oh look. Pain is here… So is love.”

The practice is based on the belief that Love is always present. In bad times and in good. Love is always present.

When we remind ourselves that, even in the darkness the light of Love is shining, we create space for possibility, for hope, for light to appear. In its appearance, we build a path forward, knowing that yes, these emotions are present, and in time, this too shall pass.

Try it. The next time you’re feeling down, or feeling angry or like the world is just too much to take or too confusing to understand, name what you’re feeling. Acknowledge its presence by saying, “Oh look. [name the emotion(s)] is here. (pause) So is Love.”

Repeat often.

Namaste.