Mindfulness

Feelings change – the gift of impermanence

27/02/2023

When we’re feeling down, it’s easy to fall into the trap of imagining that it’s going to be like that forever. But of course, it isn’t so because feelings, like everything else, are impermanent.

These ripples might look like they’re staying the same, but they’re changing all the time. And it’s like that with our own reality.

‘It’s forever!’

As, for instance, with our emotions: if you’re feeling fed up or down right now, it’s very easy to imagine that you’re going to feel that way for good – ‘My life is never going to be any different,’ you lament. That may be irrational, but it’s all too easy to feel that way.

But time will pass and you’ll feel up again. And then some more time will pass and perhaps that will become a down feeling and then up again.

What we learn

So what we learn from this impermanence of feelings is the importance of appreciating good feelings while they are there and accepting the ‘down’ feelings, knowing that they are going to pass by hopefully before long.

My Easy Mindfulness course can help you to appreciate the many aspects of mindfulness.  It’s an  online course and payment is by donation so it’s affordable to all. Learn more

My book Acceptance – create change and move forward will be published in March 2023 and can be pre-ordered here


Padraig O'Morain

I have practised mindfulness since the late 1980s, have taught mindfulness throughout Ireland and in London, have demonstrated mindfulness on ITV, RTE and TV3 and have had books on mindfulness published in several countries and languages. I provide public and corporate courses. My latest book is "Daily Calm - 100 daily reminders to help you build the mindfulness habit." My aim is to make mindfulness easily accessible to people in their everyday lives.