Emotional detachment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_detachment

Second sense: mental assertiveness

Emotional detachment in the second sense above is a positive and deliberate mental attitude which avoids engaging the emotions of others. It is often applied to relatives and associates of people who are in some way emotionally overly demanding. A simple example might be a person who trains himself to ignore the "pleading" food requests of a dieting spouse. A more widespread example could be the indifference parents develop towards their children's begging. It is not to be confused with being wilfully cold or unpleasant, because it is a positive mental attitude. Of course, the decision as to whether emotional detachment in any given set of circumstances is considered to be a positive or negative mental attitude is a subjective one, and therefore a decision on which different people may not agree.

This detachment does not mean avoiding the feeling of empathy; it is actually more of an awareness of empathetic feelings that allows the person space needed to rationally choose whether or not to be overwhelmed or manipulated by such feelings.

Mindfulness

It is the best stress buster, hands down.

It is the activation of prefrontal lope and gives you a center not affected by emotions.

Whenever there is threat, we will automatically have emotions.

Emotion is a warning signal hardwired to body.

However it is damaging to body. We need emotion as warning sign but cannot let it affect us.

Emotion is linked to the limbic system, read "A General Theory of Love".

Prefrontal lope is another module of the brain and is separate from limbic system.

We can shift our self locus there.

Mindfulness is actually activation of will power. And without it, we are slaves to natural instincts like fear, stress, anger, nervousness etc. It is hard to get things done when there is difficulty because we are controlled by impulses.

Mindfulness frees us to do what we want to do irrespective of the obstacles and pain in our way.

Mindfulness however must work together with fight your enemies and be the best in your work. It cannot work alone.

However I am not sure which one is more effective, emotional counterbalancing or mindfulness. Which one is easier to perform and allow to perform it practically.

Mindfulness I am referring to the buddhist system.