If you grab a bowl of muddy water and then pour in a clear stream of fresh water, you'll notice that the fresh water gradually clears the entire bowl until the mud is no longer noticeable.

Imagine the bowl as your mind, the muddy water representing negative thoughts, and the clear water symbolizing positive ones. Pour in the kind of thoughts you desire, and in this way, you can clear away the muddiness that has plagued you for so long.

According to the Yogi teachings, a positive thought always tends to neutralize and transform a negative one. In other words, by using your willpower and staying committed, you can change the thoughts in your mind. Including the ones you've inherited, and become a different person in terms of your personality and behavior.

So how can you rid yourself of negative emotions? By thinking about things that evoke positive emotions.

And how do you focus on things that generate positive emotions?

You concentrate your mind on the desired thoughts. It is not easy. But it can be done within a reasonable amount of time. It requires practice, patience, and perseverance. So while cultivating this concentration, help yourself with activities that bring you joy and make you feel positive emotions.

Listen to music that you love and that uplifts your mood. Read stuff that piques your curiosity, challenges your thinking, and helps you grow. Make time for the hobbies you love—those activities that make you feel alive and help you lose track of time.

Begin a meditation practice, which will enhance your ability to concentrate. This will better equip you to separate yourself from your mind and manage your emotions.

Surround yourself with people who bring you joy and support you unconditionally. Talk to therapists, psychologists, or coaches who can objectively listen to you.

All these things have helped me understand, articulate and process my emotions in times of pain.

You are the true master—the real you, the "I." You are not a slave to your mind, environment, or circumstances.

Use your willpower to control your mind. Eliminate the baggage from the past, the pain of the present and the anxiety of the future. Replace it with plenty of fresh and positive mental material that will shape your thoughts and actions of the future.

Listen to this email on your favorite podcast platform