Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness | Page 265

Mindfulness itself does not condemn or condone any particular
emotional reaction. Rather, it is the practice of honestly being aware
of what happens to us and how we react to it. The more aware and
familiar we are with our reactions, the easier it will be to have, for
example, uncomplicated grief or straightforward joy, not mixed up
with the second arrows of guilt, anger, remorse, embarrassment, or
judgement. Emotional maturity comes, not from the absence of
emotions, but from seeing them clearly.
Mindfulness helps us to be as we are without further complications.
If we can be accepting of ourselves in this way, then it is much easier
to know how to respond appropriately with choice rather than habit.

How to Attend to Emotions
Generally, during meditation, keep yourself centred on the breath. If
there are emotions in the background, leave them there; keep the
breath in the foreground of awareness as if it were the fulcrum for
your experience.
When an emotion becomes compelling enough to make it difficult to
stay with the breath, then bring it into the focus of meditative
awareness.
There are four aspects to the mindfulness of emotions. You don't
have to practise all four each time you focus on an emotion. At
different times, each is appropriate. Experiment to see how each can
help in developing a non-reactive attention to emotions.

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