August 10, 2024

I am not my feelings

One of those things I need reminded of semi-regularly, from Ram Dass by way of Pete Holmes, that the me that is me, the self, is not the feeling I’m having.

I’m not hungry, Dan has a feeling of hunger.

I’m not sad, Dan is feeling sad.

I’m not depressed, I’m experiencing depression.

Buckminster Fuller had a similar theory of humanity, separating himself as the scientist of his life, observing the person living that life.

The point of both those mental models?

Taking yourself out of the feeling, making that quiet place for the self, and knowing that it’s a temporary thing, not who you are.

---

This is part of The 100, 100 posts in 100 days.