It's so easy to say "if it wasn't for emotions getting in the way..." something about life would be better. I hear this so often. Relationships would be easier. People would agree with my personal political views. People would make good decisions, be kind, et cetera. Or maybe if it wasn't for emotions, life would just be better. No suffering, no pain, no heartbreak, no grief. Darn emotions.
Well, if it wasn't for emotions, where would be all the beauty of life? The things that make it feel good, beautiful, worth living? What would be the purpose of a relationship? Why would we care about politics? Why would we care about being kind? Our minds offer us so much, but they're not the receivers of joy, pleasure, contentment, or love.
If anything, our minds like to talk us out of those good feelings. "This can't be love," says the mind, "it doesn't fit the description I was given." Same with joy, fulfilment, satisfaction, humor. What the brain does beautifully: senses what felt good and figures out how to continue or repeat it. Senses what felt bad and figures out how to avoid or eliminate it. Weighs and names ambivalence to figure out which categories it goes into and how to prioritize it. The best business partner the brilliant emotional being could ever have found. But on its own... floundering for purpose and meaning.
So I say, if emotions provide me with sadness, frustration, despair, desolation... they also provide me with all the good stuff of life. So - if I'm gonna do this Life thing, I'll take them, arms open.
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