Nov
24
Emotions – How to Stop Them From Running My Life?
November 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Emotions run in the basement of the brain. To rise above these primitive and petty masks that overshadow your being, you need to operate from a different center. If the basement is flooded, seek shelter on a higher floor. The water may rise, but so can you!
We can never escape emotions altogether, and shouldn’t expect to as they serve as self-correcting blinders in the navigation of unknown circumstances. Life without emotions (both positive and negative ones) is meaningless.
Emotions
Classification of Emotions
The dualistic nature of the mind gives rise to differentiation, most commonly embraced as the classic struggle between good (the positive, the desirable, life enhancing, pleasure seeking) and evil (the negative, the undesirable, life destructing, pain seeking).
Any emotion, both positive or negative, can be abused by the ‘emotee’, or conversely over-saturate its victim with paralyzing effects.
Negative Emotions
Fear, lust, greed, hate, depression, sadness, disappointment….
Positive Emotions
Love, happiness, compassion, empathy, contentment….
Neutrality and Abuse
Negative emotions are meant to protect us from our environment (including other ‘emotees’). In and of themselves, negative emotions (in the right proportions) can indeed be helpful (and life saving).
People get carried away with the chemically self-induced effects (drug use, jogging) of certain positive emotions like euphoria and love. They become addicted to these emotions and not only crave them but seek fulfillment at the expense of the emotions of others.
Cultivation and regulation
No one likes a ‘goody two shoes’, the well intentioned person who puts on their false face and traipses around spreading self-perceived versions of niceness. Such a person is not being authentic with their emotions. They are merely ‘saving face’ and attempting to avoid conflict.
‘Right intention’ and proper emotions flow from the spirit, and are constantly regulated in our own ongoing feedback / control mechanism (the brain). These emotions are updated instant by instant, and must be allowed to flow freely and find expression. Caged and frozen emotions are roadblocks to success.
To control emotions, one must practice detachment, one benefit learned through various meditation practices. This means to step into the ‘third person’ point of view and observe yourself having an emotional experience, but not identifying yourself with it. The experience will move on and so can you with your life.
Emotions – How to Stop Them From Running My Life?
Ted Ollikkala is the main contributing author to Spiritual Chicken.
SpiritualChicken.com is a free guide for making the most of your stay on the planet, regardless of your confusion level (but we hope to clear this up) or particular set of spiritual beliefs.
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