Years ago, I remember when my son and I rode the Scrambler at Kings Island. It was his first time, and I could tell he was a bit apprehensive, he’s not much of a coaster rider.
As soon as the ride started, I saw the tension build in his body. He gripped the bar with all his might, fighting the feeling of the coaster rather than surrendering to it.
I leaned over and gently said, “You have to relax and go with it. Don’t fight it. Trust me.”
The moment he let go, both physically and mentally, everything changed. The tension left his body, and almost instantly, he was laughing and fully enjoying the ride. That simple shift completely altered his experience.
Have you ever tried to fight that feeling on a roller coaster? Notice how it completely changes the ride.
The emotions we experience in daily life aren’t so different.
We move through pain, sadness, anxiety, joy, and love, sometimes all in the same day. Yet, many of us try to run from or fight these emotions. We numb out with distractions: alcohol, pills, shopping, and scrolling endlessly (disclaimer: sometimes medication is necessary and helpful). But often, we’re simply trying to avoid discomfort.
Mindfulness teaches us something different: to stay present, even with the hard stuff.
If you can align with your emotions and allow them to be there without resistance, they become far more tolerable, like surrendering to the roller coaster.
Let the process unfold.
The next time you’re at an amusement park, pay attention. Do you fight the sensations on the ride or let yourself flow with them? Whichever you tend to do, try the opposite. Notice how different it feels.
Now take that same curiosity into your life. When you’re hit with an overwhelming emotion, pause and check in. Are you trying to fight it or run from it? If so, try staying with it.
Relax into the emotion. Notice how it feels in your body. And then… allow.