Anxiety as a House Guest

Sometimes we define ourselves by our emotion - we might call ourselves short-tempered, crazy or a stress-head. If you find yourself doing this, I want you to challenge the notion... I want you to imagine your feelings, not as an intrinsic part of you, but as a visitor. Difficult emotions don't live with you, so there's no need to struggle with them in an endless dispute. Emotions are visitors, always visitors, and will leave of their own accord.

Have a read of Jalaluddin's beautiful poem below where he describes emotion as a house guest.

As the Swedish say: "Thank you for coming, thank you for going."

The Guest House

by Jalaluddin Rumi

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A Joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honourably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice

meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

At gentle courage, we rely on our community of life-writers. Have you overcome a difficulty in life? Have you read a book that has inspired you to change your mindset? Would you be able to write about it? Come join our community of life-writers.