It is normal to feel despair from time to time. At such times, first of all, fully accept the feeling. It may be a general feeling of low spirits, or some physical malaise or a combination of both. The best thing at such a time is to review your feelings and accept you are not at the top of your form. The realization and acceptance form part of the journey to repair.
Now take a good look at the cocktail brewing inside. Usually our feelings are a bit jumbled. And now it is time to separate the good from the bad. Down below will be the feelings of despair or anguish. They are the heaviest and sink to the bottom and take us down with them. Take a dispassionate look at these feelings. Try to look at them objectively. For example, admit that, "I am feeling low because i feel fat and unhealthy". This will help you understand the feeling better. It may not always be possible to assign a cause or a reason and if you are not able to, it's still alright to let it rest there and move up. Now examine the next layer. You may be feeling slightly dissatisfied about something else, but it may not been as strong a feeling of despair as the lowest layer. "I am dissatisfied because I lost money today. I was careless and dropped it in the taxi." There will be a horde of such feelings. Dissect them and look at them squarely.
Next, delve into the layer above and things start to get less murky. These are the things you are feeling somewhat satisfied with. They will usually be small things, so look for them. "I dealt with paperwork, I answered a few important emails and I did chores." Remember, everything counts. There, you are already feeling lighter as you rise in your mind, instead of being dragged down by what is heavy and unsavoury.
Lastly, float in the upper most layer of your thoughts and feelings. "I met someone really amazing today. We had coffee and connected at various levels. I really like this person and it was refreshing meeting someone like that. I'm really glad I did."
Now you have broken down your feelings into different layers or levels. And whereas you can revel in the pleasantness of the top, you need not be bogged down in the silt underneath. There will be times when everything will be churned up and dark and dismal looking. The bottom will rise to pollute and dirty your entire being. This, too, is normal. Best thing at such a time is to watch and give it time. For given time, doesn't the mud settle down? And the top becomes clean and light once again. Just allow this to happen, do nothing. Then enjoy the sunlight filtering through your being that is clear on the top. This sunlight will hit the darkness of the bottom layers and make them lighter and cleaner. And that is how lotuses bloom even in the darkest places. They struggle up through the dark muddy layers and find the sunlight and gladden us with their beauty. But rarely does a lotus bloom in a pond that is constantly churning. It needs layers of both darkness and lightness. Let the lotus bloom forth from the bed of despair. Distil, don't despair.
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