7 Maxims for mental wellness
Accept emotions rather than trying to control or eliminate them
Shoma Morita was a Japanese psychiatrist and the founder of Morita Therapy, a form of psychotherapy developed in the early 20th century. Morita Therapy is based on the principles of Zen Buddhism. It aims to help individuals achieve psychological well-being by accepting their emotions rather than trying to control or eliminate them.
Let’s review seven of my favorite maxims from Morita. He used these maxims as mental models while talking to his clients. They acted as tools or anchors for his clients to make choices when surrounded by feelings.
Feelings are for feeling.
Feelings are not for explaining, for justifying, or for acting out.
They are to be noticed, experienced, and accepted while we go about what needs doing.
Keep on doing what needs to be done.
Rather than fixing some feeling or circumstance, simply note its existence.
Move on to what reality has brought for us to do.
If it’s raining and you have an umbrella, use it.
Don’t endure unpleasant circumstances that can be changed by action.
Don’t try to shovel away your shadow.
Don’t try the impossible task of controlling your feelings by willpower.
Make friends with fear.
Struggling with feelings such as fear intensifies their effects.
Recognizing them as old acquaintances allows them to fade in time without stimulating a new struggle.
Behavior wags the tail of feelings
Behavior can be used to produce an indirect influence on feelings.
Sitting in your bathrobe doesn’t stimulate the desire to play tennis, but putting on tennis shoes and going to the course might!
Depressed? Get moving!
Physical activity is important in most neurotic conditions.
Feel like it or not, activity is a basic means of influencing emotions directly.
Time for reflection:
Which maxim resonated the most with you?
How can you put this insight into action today?
PS: In my 7-week cohort course, we dedicate one full session on how thoughts inspire or derail our goal achievement. Check out this link for more details; the course starts on 26th October.