Balanced Perspective: Ride the Waves of Emotions

I’ve always tried to maintain a positive attitude and remain objective in my perceptions. When I was experiencing a setback or negativity, I would tell myself “This moment will also pass.” I would find solutions or grab the bull by the horns, hoping to conquer.

Until one day, life threw a curveball that left me stunned and in disbelief. I couldn’t have prepared myself for the gravity of the situation, which was out of my hands. This was not a problem that I could solve; rather, it was a truth that had to be “accepted.”

I could hear voices on the other end of the phone and wasn’t sure if I was hearing things correctly or if I were hallucinating. The phone call was to inform me of the medical condition of a loved one. This spiralled me out of control and haemorrhaging on every emotion imaginable. The inner turbulence prevented me from seeing beyond the situation.

All the fighting and resisting to accept the situation heightened my feelings of anxiety, anger, frustration, pain, sadness, helplessness, and other emotions. It was difficult at first, but allowing myself to go through these emotional phases turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I knew I didn’t have a choice and had to deal with something out of my hands. It forced me to change because there was nothing I could do.

I understand that refusing to accept the truth does not make it any less true: it is easier said than done!

How do I get through this difficult journey while maintaining a balanced perspective on the situation?

The initial reaction to experiencing negative emotions was too strong, and I needed to transform it into a source of strength and take control of how I responded to them. I made headspace for the one thing I could control: the choices I make.

 I could only deal with this situation through “Acceptance,” which is the “Reality of it.” I’d tell myself over and over that a situation like this was unavoidable and there was nothing I could do about it. There is no right or wrong way to do things because we are all different.

My focus on what was in front of me helped me in coping with the waves of difficult emotions. I learned to live in the moment and make better decisions. It helped in building greater resilience, made me more aware of my level of emotional maturity to govern my life courses, enabled me to recover from adversity more quickly and provided me with a strong sense of purpose in life.

By shifting my focus from what I couldn’t change to everything I could, I was able to create an emotional state that reinforced this reality. Gradually, clarity, calm, and peace emerged. Acceptance taught me how to control my emotions, which was a life-changing lesson.

I’ve learned important lessons and novel approaches to dealing with crisis over which I have no control. The first is to maintain emotional control, which allows for more informed decisions and wise choices. Being melodramatic will not help. Get an objective viewpoint in order to gain new insights and perspectives, and third, accept with less resistance and belief that everything happens for a reason.

Focusing on positive and healthy thinking enables us to recognize our emotions, embrace change, and accept it for what it is: an experience and a lesson. It also promotes greater appreciation and gratitude, as well as a more compassionate outlook. The ‘worst’ thing that ever happens to us may turn out to be the most important part of our personal growth.

Acceptance prepares us for a changing world in which we never know what will happen next. We must learn to recognize when it is time to persevere and when it is time to give up. Stress can be managed by being aware of the present moment without passing judgement.

Sometimes the problem isn’t that we can’t find a solution; it’s that we can’t see the problem. In these situations, the only thing we have control over is “our own actions.”

Maintain a positive attitude, do not resist or defend yourself, and trust that everything will be fine. This gives you a sense of control, it’s empowering, and by maintaining this stance, you can stay productive rather than being overwhelmed by things you can’t control.

What do you do when you have no control over something?