Set yourself free from negative emotions.

Living in balance with the source of everything that exists, harmonizing with the nature by balancing yin and yang, and developing “chi” through meditation and disengagement. Sound like an unachievable kind of lifestyle? It’s all possible with simple methods and techniques offered by a six-thousand-year old philosophy, religious tradition and a system of life called Taoism.
The famous ying-yang sign symbolizing the balance of the two opposite forces in life has been brought to us by Taoism. This perfect harmony of black and white is what we should all be aiming towards to live a healthy and happy life, say Tao masters.

Whilst one can spend their lifetime studying Taoism and trying to live by its rules, there is one aspect of Taoism that is particularly relevant in the modern life: our ability to live free of any negative emotions by transforming them into the positive virtues using two simple exercises.

Interested? Keep on reading!

In the Taoist tradition, each person is responsible for the emotions that arise within, regardless of the external events that cause them. Each of us can cultivate both positive and negative emotions and is capable of transforming them from one modality to another (Why not?).

As taught by one of the modern Masters of Taoism, Mantak Chia, the founder of Universal Healing Tao system and Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort, positive and negative emotions sit in our internal organs. Being “emotionally intelligent” is to be able to recognize the emotions by their effects on the body, and employing exercises that transform negative emotions into positive life force.

Feeling anger, frustration, envy? Bring your attention to your liver and transform those emotions into kindness and generosity.

Been overtaken by fear? That’s in your kidneys. Learn how to transform fear into gentleness and kindness.

Too much worry and anxiety? Careful, your stomach might feel upset. Transform that into fairness and openness.

So how can we make these transformations happen?

Two most important exercises that are taught by Master Chia are the “Inner Smile” and the “Six Healing Sounds”. These exercises focus on five key organs: the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, the liver/gall bladder, and the stomach/spleen. During these exercises, you visualize each organ, cleansing it and transforming negative emotional energies into positive virtues.
For example, the Inner Smile Practice involves creating a source of smiling energy and drawing it in and around you, filling up your heart and the entire body with this healing energy.

During the Six Healing Sounds Practice, you visualize each of the six organs and produce a particular sound relevant to a particular organ. With the exhalation, you empty out all the negative feelings from the respective organ.

Sounds easy? It really is, and all it takes is a bit of time set aside for the regular practice, an intention to be your own healer, and working with your own visualization.

These simple techniques can transform your life and contribute to your physical, emotional and mental health, so worth a try.

A simple daily tip: every time you feel anger, just exhale fully and sharply: “ha!” and direct the negative energy into the Earth. It has an ability to transform and recycle negative energy into the positive one. That’s your ancient wisdom for modern life.

editor: Greg Eckard

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Ariadna Bakhmatova was introduced to the philosophy of yoga when she was in her teens. Since then, well-being has been her passion, hobby and a lifestyle choice. Over the past years she has been discovering and trying various tools and techniques that can help people live a healthier and happier life; from various types of yoga to Ayurveda and holistic massages to Reiki to flower remedies and superfoods, and so on. She is a believer that small things can make a big difference and is interested in discovering how well-being can be incorporated into a busy city lifestyle.