“All the negative emotions are just distortions of love. Acceptance is the first step to handle these emotions.” — Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Select your emotion below and watch Gurudev’s wisdom on it.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji has spoken extensively on how to handle difficult emotions. His central teaching is that emotions are not to be suppressed or indulged, but understood — and that the breath is the most direct bridge between the mind and the emotions.
Select an emotion above to watch Gurudev's wisdom on it, followed by a guided meditation. Below is a summary of his teaching on each of the ten emotions covered on this page. All videos are free and sourced from Gurudev's official YouTube channel.
Gurudev teaches that anger is a distortion of our true nature. It often arises when we cannot accept the present, expect too much perfection, or remain stuck in the past. Meditation and breathing techniques help us regain centeredness, and when the mind is in the present, anger loses its force.
Gurudev says that when the mind is in the future, it becomes anxious about what may or may not happen. Anxiety fades when we return to the present moment and stop carrying unnecessary stress. Breath, meditation, and spiritual practice help restore balance and calm the system.
Gurudev teaches that depression can arise when the mind becomes too occupied with personal misery, and one remedy is to expand beyond it through knowledge, service, joy, and connection. He also says that sharing universal suffering and universal joy can lift the heaviness of the mind. Service and uplifting practices help restore vitality.
Gurudev says fear is closely connected with love and the heart’s sensitivity to pain. When there is deep acceptance and wisdom, fear weakens, because one learns to see pain as part of love and life’s reality. Meditation brings love with wisdom, and fear gradually dissolves.
Gurudev’s teaching suggests that self-blame is harmful on the spiritual path. When a mistake has happened, the wiser response is to learn from it, move ahead, and not remain trapped in guilt. Self-blame only weakens us, while acceptance and growth help us continue.
Gurudev teaches that jealousy is a form of burning energy that arises when the inner self is disturbed. When we recognise that the core of our being is not negative and that everyone has their own path, jealousy naturally loses strength. Meditation helps negative energy subside.
Gurudev says that emotions are part of life, and when one feels cut off, it is important to deepen one’s connection with oneself through meditation and inner awareness. In that space, one discovers that existence itself supports us, and aloneness becomes strength rather than emptiness.
Gurudev teaches that emotions should be allowed to move through us rather than resisted. Sadness is not permanent; it rises and passes like a wave. Beneath it lies an unchanging inner silence that is untouched by sorrow.
Gurudev says stress comes from fixed ideas that things should be a certain way, and from carrying too much unnecessary burden. He advises returning to the present, not making decisions in agitation, and dropping stress instead of keeping it. Breath and meditation help the system relax and regain clarity.
Gurudev teaches that worry has no real usefulness because it keeps the mind in imagined outcomes. When attention returns to the present through breath and awareness, worry loses its grip. Do what can be done, and do not carry what is not yours to carry.
This free emotional wellness tool is offered by BWG – Breath Wisdom Grace, a volunteer platform sharing Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji's wisdom since 2013.
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