Who is to blame for your negative emotions? You!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I've just had a situation where I have been judged by someone who barely even knows me, which may cause me a lot of difficulties in the near future, so excuse me if my faith in my fellow man at the present moment isn't too high.

Have you just acquired a superior who doesn't like you?

[Sikander]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
That's the latest in shrink-babble.

So, if you get mugged on the way in to work, and the guy decides for the hell of it to kick your face in, then in the hospital, you find out you're uninsured, because your business partner let the policy lapse while embezzling everything you've spent the last 15 years building up, and then you call home, and get a message from your wife telling you she's left you for another woman, and cleaned out your savings, but you can have the mortgage and the kids -

If you have any problems with that, it's your own damn fault.

I agree with the sentiment, though to be fair you should have seen some of that coming.

[DrFell]

Re: Who is to blame for your negative emotions? You!

Originally posted by Caligastia
You are the one who decides to interpret what is happening around you in a way that brings these emotions on.

If your brain doesnt tell your body to create an emotional state then it wont happen.

True - but a lot of emotional responses are instinctive or subconscious. For example, say a particular situation such as speaking in front of an angry crowd makes you nervous. I can almost guarantee no matter how many times you say to yourself 'I am not nervous, everything will be fine' you'll still be feeling the emotion. It's the situation that's triggering your subconscious mind to bring on the emotional response, not you (entirely). So your conscious mind can't be entirely blamed for it, which is why you can say:

"You are making me angry"

And be completely correct.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by devilmunchkin

Christianity is more plausible than the idea of karma.

You've somehow weighted each of them mathematically and come to this conclusion? What's the plausability ratio of Christianity to Karma?

[DrFell]

As far as I'm concerened Christianity is 0% plausible.

[Jethro83]

Re: Who is to blame for your negative emotions? You!

Originally posted by Caligastia
You are the one who decides to interpret what is happening around you in a way that brings these emotions on.

Emotions are basically different physical states that your body takes on depending on what your brain tells it. If your brain doesnt tell your body to create an emotional state then it wont happen.

So the statement "You are making me angry" is false.

Any thoughts?

That is so right. I know from experience that with proper training and enlightenment, you can completely block out certain emotions.

Throughout most of my life, I've been angry at everyone around me. They were bullying me constantly. I was their tormented tool of amusement. You'd expect any kid with that upbringing to find a gun, take it to school and shoot them all.

However, I have come to the realisation that anger is the most futile thing to ever exist in our minds. It achieves nothing, clouds rational thought and gives bullies more ammunition to shoot at you.

Lately, I've been trying to train myself to avoid being angry at anything. I'm just so tired of being angry that I just can't let out the negative energy within that way. I have to go off and do something creative with that energy, blast a few bots in Unreal Tournament, conquer the world (again) in Civ3, or I'll meditate.

[Richelieu]

Re: Re: Who is to blame for your negative emotions? You!

Originally posted by LordAzreal
I have to go off and do something creative with that energy, blast a few bots in Unreal Tournament, conquer the world (again) in Civ3, or I'll meditate.

[DrFell]

Fear is a very difficult emotion to control.

[Provost Harrison]

But fear will turn you to the dark side

[Jethro83]

Fear will only turn you over to the dark side if you do nothing about it. You need to be afraid. Anyone who doesn't feel fear is a completely deluded fool. Fear is only dangerous when it isn't faced. When you don't face your fears, then you are a coward.

If you are not careful, someone could use your darkest fears to control you. And that is when your dark side surfaces.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by LordAzreal
Fear will only turn you over to the dark side if you do nothing about it. You need to be afraid. Anyone who doesn't feel fear is a completely deluded fool. Fear is only dangerous when it isn't faced. When you don't face your fears, then you are a coward.

If you are not careful, someone could use your darkest fears to control you. And that is when your dark side surfaces.

How many clichés in this one ?

[Jethro83]

Originally posted by Richelieu

How many clichés in this one ?

Yeah. I know its all been said before. Over and over again. But it is one of those things that needs to be seen as the truth. A lot of clichés really do sound stupid, but by my opinion, this one isn't one of them.

[MikeH]

Re: Re: Who is to blame for your negative emotions? You!

Originally posted by DrFell


True - but a lot of emotional responses are instinctive or subconscious. For example, say a particular situation such as speaking in front of an angry crowd makes you nervous. I can almost guarantee no matter how many times you say to yourself 'I am not nervous, everything will be fine' you'll still be feeling the emotion. It's the situation that's triggering your subconscious mind to bring on the emotional response, not you (entirely). So your conscious mind can't be entirely blamed for it, which is why you can say:

Why do some people get nervous a lot more than others? You can definitely block out nerves by just training. Anger too, I almost never get angry.

[Provost Harrison]

I was just doing a Yoda impression, but ah, never mind

[Solly]

I too am very rarely angry.

I disagree totally with Cali though. If people can control their emotions (their moods, their thoughts), how come we see thought and mood disorders?

(ie, schizophrenia and depression respectively).