All of us know that negative emotions cycle themselves over and over in loop-like processes. We also know that we can experience positive emotions in the same way, over and over, "looping" in our thinking. Feeling these "cycles" of emotion is like riding the loops of a roller coaster. Below is an example of the basic cycle of negative emotions as well as the contrasting cycle of positive emotions. Practice these several times each day. Get used to feeling a cycle of feelings. Teach your brain to go through the positive cycle. You can even teach your brain to use the negative signal of “oppression” to start you on a cycle of positive emotion, but like the scales of learning to play the piano, it takes practice and consistency over time. This is a great time of year to be considering oppression with all of the holiday activity and expectations. Just the simple expectation of what the holiday “should” be and feel like, over and against its reality, can be oppressing. It is what we make it to be. This is the cycle that is so easy to get stuck in. Once you get oppressed, you take the whole ride on this coaster. The Roller Coaster of Oppression Oppression (it’s on top of me, I’m not in control, it controls me) Anger or Hostility The fear of the same anger and hostility expressed toward you The unconscious rehearsal of lashing out or withdrawing The actual “acting out” or “acting in” the anger or hostility The guilt and compromise with life (oh well, that’s just how it is) Or The ME (Mental Equivalent) Roller Coaster of Positive Emotion Feeling Good and in control Excited and Eager Eager and Anticipatory Appreciative Joyful In Awe and Wonder Run through a cycle of all of these feelings on the "Mental Equivalent" State of Mind Roller Coaster. You can learn to "cycle" them all through your mind and begin to feel much less stressed, both at the holidays and every day throughout the year. And the feelings don’t have to be large; let them be small- just feel a little bit of them.