says it can. She offered a practical example. Let's say something has angered you, and you feel it in your body. Blood rushes to your face, and your heart-beat quickens. This is when we have a choice. Most times, we "fight" or "fly." But Cheen walked us through a third option: "relax into the suffering and pain."Hmmm, suffering is not something I typically want to "relax into." But I'd prefer it to fighting or fleeing, so I thought about an unclear situation that's been challenging me. I said, "Hi" to the frustration. I actually greeted it the way you would greet a person. I then tried to follow Cheen's advice, and create distance between me and the feeling by acknowledging it. Good news! Doing it is actually easier than writing about it. Negative emotions don't have to overtake us. They can, instead, inform us. When's the last time you gave yourself this kind of care and gentleness? Read next feature >