12-ClearYourMentalSpace

Thinkabout the last time you felt a negative emotion---like stress, anger, orfrustration. What was going through your mind as you were going through thatnegativity? Was your mind cluttered with thoughts? Or was it paralyzed, unableto think?

Thenext time you find yourself in the middle of a very stressful time, or you feelangry or frustrated, stop. Yes, that’s right, stop. Whatever you’re doing, stopand sit for one minute. While you’re sitting there, completely immerse yourselfin the negative emotion.

Allowthat emotion to consume you. Allow yourself one minute to truly feel thatemotion. Don’t cheat yourself here. Take the entire minute---but only oneminute---to do nothing else but feel that emotion.

Whenthe minute is over, ask yourself, “Am I wiling to keep holding on to this negativeemotion as I go through the rest of the day?”

Onceyou’ve allowed yourself to be totally immersed in the emotion and really fellit, you will be surprised to find that the emotion clears rather quickly.

Ifyou feel you need to hold on to the emotion for a little longer, that is OK.Allow yourself another minute to feel the emotion.

Whenyou feel you’ve had enough of the emotion, ask yourself if you’re willing tocarry that negativity with you for the rest of the day. If not, take a deepbreath. As you exhale, release all that negativity with your breath.