What can we do
on our daily
lives to control
our emotions and
focus on the
positive ones,
aiming to
conquer our
internal peace?
It is essential to
understand emotions as our
allies in the process of
self-discovery and internal
enlightenment. Also, we must
understand that it is
neither possible nor
recommended to block, or
suppress indefinitely, our
emotions. We need to manage
them. Both the so-called
positive emotions and the
negative ones play a role in
our live by triggering our
psychological and spiritual
development.
How should we deal with the
emotions that still disturb
us?
One of the most interesting
points of psychological
dynamics is that accepting
yourself is the first step
towards change. And as much
as it may sound incredible,
accepting yourself does not
mean spiritual stagnation.
On the contrary, without
accepting ourselves we
cannot reach self-discovery,
as we fall into a self-defence
mechanism called denial.
Without self-discovery we
cannot reach
self-enlightenment. Also, by
accepting and admitting our
inner reality we are already
changing ourselves and
freeing ourselves of
addictive mental cycles. I
think, therefore, that a
crucial way of dealing in a
healthy manner with the
emotions/memories/thoughts/feelings
that disturb us is to see
them like the wind: it comes
and goes; you cannot store
in the same way you cannot
block (or fight against) our
negative emotions without
generating serious internal
problems.
Which one of the positive
emotions is easier to try to
cultivate as we try to
achieve balance and health?
Each person has their own
characteristics, which we
can call
strengths/virtues/qualities.
According to the
psychological aspects of
each person, it is easier
for them to focus on one or
another. However, two tools
that help develop positive
emotions are to cultivate
gratitude (it helps the
development of positive
emotions linked to the past)
and appreciation (it helps
the development of positive
emotions linked to the
present).
Is there a practical way of
observing and identifying
the spiritual baggage that
we have brought to this life
from previous existences?
We can try what St Augustine
suggested on question 919 of The
Spirits’ Book –
to make an assessment of
your day before going to
bed. I usually do a
variation of that, mixing it
with other Mindfulness
techniques. I allocate 5
minutes every day to sit
down in a comfortable
position and close my eyes:
1) hear the sounds around
you (without making moral
judgement on the thoughts
that will come up, simply
focusing on the sounds); 2)
weeks later, in the same
position, listen to some
music, preferably
instrumental, and pay
attention to the emotions
that emerge. These
techniques can help work on
a number of issues,
including practicing not to
judge (and therefore
accepting yourself without
denial) and eventually
working on your inner self.
Is it possible to encourage
the positive emotions and
tackle our negative ones? Is
there an easy-to-follow
guide to that?
For all that I explained
above, I prefer to focus on
positive emotions rather
than focusing excessively on
tackling the negative ones.
A psychology technique that
has been extensively covered
on scientific articles and
that is very close to the
Spiritist-Christian
proposal, even though its
American authors are unaware
of it, is “to count your
blessings”. Write down on a
piece of paper for 15 days
at night three good things
that happened in the
previous 24 hours. The good
things here don’t need to be
exceptional things. On the
contrary, it is recommended
that we look out for small
events that would otherwise
remain unnoticed. Think
about them. If it helps,
carry on doing it for longer
(even if you don’t
necessarily write it).
From your professional
experience, what would you
like to highlight on the
impact that emotions have on
our health?
Both my experience and
scientific research show
that negative emotions have
an impact on the occurrence
of a number of illnesses or
their development. But
science has been finding out
that positive emotions have
a positive impact on health,
regardless of the presence
or not of negative emotions.
Based on your experience in
the field, what aspect of
human suffering strikes you
the most?
The capacity human beings
have of reinventing
themselves.
What would you like to add
about your experience as a
Spiritist?
Let us not lose the essence
of our Teachings. Those of
us who play a role in the
Spiritist Movement should
not be diverted by illusions
of solving all human
problems or curing all
illnesses. Let us carry on
as postmen handing out
letters of good and love.
Is there anything else you
would like to add?
The different ways of
getting ill send us
different messages. One of
them is: We are not
self-sufficient; we need one
another to grow. Illnesses
make that lesson very clear
to us. Until we learn that,
illnesses will still have a
role to play on Earth.
