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    “If you really want to know your mind, the body will always give you a truthful reflection, so look at the emotion, or rather feel it in your body.  If there is an apparent conflict between them, the thought will be the lie, the emotion will be the truth.  Not the ultimate truth of who you are, but the relative truth of your state of mind at that time.” ~ Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (Page 26)

      “If you cannot feel your emotions, if you are cut off from them, you will eventually experience them on a purely physical level, as a physical problem or symptom.” ~ Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (Page 25)

        “A leader must be calm but not robotic.  It is normal—and necessary—to show emotion.  The team must understand that their leader cares about them and their well-being.  But, a leader must control his or her emotions.  If not, how can they expect to control anything else?  Leaders who lose their temper also lose respect.  But, at the same time, to never show any sense of anger, sadness, or frustration would make that leader appear void of any emotion at all—a robot.  People do not follow robots.” ~ Jocko Willink, Extreme Ownership (Page 275)

          “Only dead people never get stressed, never get broken hearts, never experience the disappointment that comes with failure. Tough emotions are part of our contract with life. You don’t get to have a meaningful career or raise a family or leave the world a better place without stress and discomfort. Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.” ~ Susan David, Ph.D, Mindful

            “Research on emotional suppression shows that when emotions are pushed aside or ignored, they get stronger. Psychologists call this amplification. Like that delicious chocolate cake in the refrigerator, the more you try to ignore it, the greater its hold on you. You might think you’re in control of unwanted emotions when you ignore them, but in fact, they control you. Internal pain always comes out. Always. And who pays the price? We do. Our children, our colleagues, our communities.” ~ Susan David, Ph.D, Mindful

              “Normal, natural emotions are now seen as good or bad. And being positive has become a new form of moral correctness. People with cancer are automatically told to just stay positive. Women, to stop being so angry. And the list goes on. It’s a tyranny. It’s a tyranny of positivity. And it’s cruel. Unkind. And ineffective. And we do it to ourselves, and we do it to others.” ~ Susan David, Ph.D, Mindful

                “How we deal with our inner world drives everything. Every aspect of how we love, how we live, how we parent and how we lead. The conventional view of emotions as good or bad, positive or negative, is rigid. And rigidity in the face of complexity is toxic. We need greater levels of emotional agility for true resilience and thriving.” ~ Susan David, Ph.D, Mindful

                  “Denying negative emotions leads to experiencing deeper and more prolonged negative emotions and to emotional dysfunction.  Constant positivity is a form of avoidance, not a valid solution to life’s problems—problems which, by the way, if you’re choosing the right values and metrics, should be invigorating you and motivating you.” ~ Mark Mason, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

                    “The desire for a more positive experience is itself a negative experience.  And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.” ~ Mark Mason, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

                      This being human is a guest house.
                      Every morning a new arrival.
                      A joy, a depression, a meanness,
                      some momentary awareness comes
                      as an unexpected visitor.
                      Welcome and entertain them all!
                      Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
                      who violently sweep your house
                      empty of its furniture,
                      still, treat each guest honorably.
                      He may be clearing you out
                      for some new delight.
                      The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
                      meet them at the door laughing,
                      and invite them in.
                      Be grateful for whoever comes
                      because each has been sent
                      as a guide from beyond.

                      ~ Rumi, via Solitude

                        “Anxiety is part of our human condition, and we need to learn to treat it as an old friend, or least a familiar acquaintance.  Many therapists say to do something to avoid anxiety, but in such endless activity much of our experience – joyful and painful – is lost.  Seems like a hard bargain.” ~ Robert Kull, Solitude