Working with Difficult Emotions | Open Sangha

Pain multiplied by resistance equals suffering. This equation, while simple, reveals the fundamental mechanism of human distress. Pain – whether physical or emotional – is inevitable. Suffering is what happens when we contract against what's already present.

Most of us learn to manage difficult emotions through suppression, distraction, or attempting to fix them. These strategies provide temporary relief while leaving the underlying patterns intact. This evening explores a different approach: meeting difficult emotions with presence rather than resistance, transforming them from adversaries into intelligence about our inner landscape.

When we stop fighting what arises and instead develop capacity to hold discomfort, emotions become mirrors revealing what we can contain and where we need to grow. This isn't about romanticizing difficulty or spiritual bypassing, but recognizing that challenging states carry information essential for becoming more whole.

The practice extends beyond personal benefit. When we develop capacity to hold our own emotional…