What really happens when our emotions get out of control? In the moment we surge into some sort of action to express the intensity of our feelings in hopes of finding some catharsis or relief. Maybe we shout or cry. Maybe we lash out and become nasty and mean. Maybe we retreat and isolate. When […]
Out of Control Emotions Read More »
Let’s do some thinking about fear this morning. Fear is a core spectrum of emotions that help us respond to our perception of threats. These threats can be either real or imagined. Regardless of the source the physiological response is the same. Hyper focusing of the senses, quickened breathing, tense muscles, and increased blood pressure
Don’t confuse acting under the raw influence of your emotional compulsions with being the same thing as making a wise choice. I think I see this most in people (and in myself) when they start to live their lives like “work-acholoics,” but I’m sure it manifests in other ways as well. The work-aholic is constantly
Raw Impulses vs. Wise Choices Read More »
In my observation, philosophies like Stoicism can fall short because they have been distilled down to quippy platitudes that lack truly actionable methodologies, tools, or skills. For example, the Stoic idea of the dichotomy of control asserts that the only thing within our control is our well reasoned response to the world around us. That
Beyond Philosophies Read More »
The wise mind walks the middle path guided by logic on one side and intuition on the other. The Stoics often get judged and labeled as devoid of emotion. This couldn’t be further from the truth. They do however recognize that emotions must be regulated in order to harness their true power and benefit. The
Stoicism In Star Trek Read More »
I love this question for a few reasons. First, the answer is typically a binary yes or no and that helps with clarity. Another reason is that the language of the questions is not seeking a subjective judgement of quality or morality. Perhaps my favorite reason is that we can use it to challenge our
Is this helping me, or is it getting in my way? Read More »
From the Stoic perspective, gaining control of our impulses allows us to be intentional about living the life we want to live. Oftentimes I think this is viewed as raw discipline and or a brute force method of self control. Fortunately there are ways to train our minds to be a more effective tool for
Controlling Impulses Read More »
If you find yourself living at the mercy and whim of raging emotions this may be a sign you need to increase your capability and capacity to regulate your emotions. In the years that I have been studying philosophy I often see quippy snippets of wisdom that advocate for some form of emotional control or
Regulating Emotions Read More »
