Emotions Rule

Consider when we come into the world that we are physical little bundles of emotional reactions. We are wired to respond emotionally to our environment before we even have the capacity for cognition. Since we have been practicing emotional responses since birth, is it any wonder they dominate our day to day life?

We will never be emotion-free, nor should we be. Emotions are the spices of life! It’s rare we complain about the positive ones (like, darn it! I just get so happy sometimes. This happiness is really getting in the way of my day).  It’s the negative ones that can get in our way, of course. For example, pick any topic where you feel strongly.  I mean intense - like you’d fight to the death to assert and defend it (maybe I hit a nerve in the questions from the Perspective Matters post).  Now think about some real or imagined perspective adversary that feels as strongly about their ‘not yours’ perspective.  You both step into the thunder dome.  The crowd is cheering wildly.  Someone yells, “BEGIN!”.  You’re armed with the raging commitment to your perspective and launch an offense designed to drive the other person into the ground.  You KNOW you’re right and are NOT backing down!  The crowd is cheering your or your opponent.  A battle ensues but no matter what the other person says, you will always emerge victorious.  The crowd will be one of: split, side with you or your perspect-versary.

Is this not how the world seems to work on certain issues?  Do you see this in your own life?  When was the last time you were right up against it with a personal issue or someone you are close with on some level?

Question: If this is how people primarily operate, what hope is there for real change in the form of forward movement, betterment of lives and more civilized humanity?