Emotions begin as undifferentiated sparks — and in that fleeting moment before they crystallize, you have the power to choose what they become.
This is about emotion. In the absence of religion or spirituality, emotion can hold the highest crown. From philosophy and psychology — and self-help and motivational materials — there is a lot of theory thrown around. I, for one, am very confused by the results. But I think I have some valuable insight. …Well now. Let’s break it down.
I want to scrap Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and similar pyramids of negative-to-neutral-to-positive emotions. People want to feel things. The promise of an emotional experience remains alluring, and important even. No matter what the feeling that’s present. Love, hate, anger, ecstasy, boredom, sadness, confusion, mischief. I’m going to sort of isolate the emotion — like a scientist might find the first signs of life. Cell division, an embryo, et cetera.
I want to say that emotions are, or at least can be, tiny fleeting things at their core. And as undeveloped sparks they maybe require support — to be drawn out of their slumber into action. And it is at this phase that the emotion can, like an undeveloped embryo choosing gender, it is at this phase you sort of have the power to choose what the emotion will be.
And if you have the chance — can you choose Joy? Can you choose Love? Can you choose enthusiasm, ambition, exhilaration? Or maybe warmth, connection, understanding. Belief. Trust in the future, acceptance of the present tense. Patience…Faith…Good intentions.
The main point I am making is that you have the power to turn your emotions — those little instincts, some of them conscious, many not — but can you rescue from your deep machinery the power to choose and raise and direct that emotion? Because then, when you have that clear motivation, action can take place. When the feeling is pure. Directed. Positive. Or negative — that exists too. But for a purpose.
I mean, hopefully, for the grand purpose of sharing a meta-religious revolution — one based upon radical awe and gratitude, and ultimately uniting the dual fronts of humanitarian and naturalist causes.
One Earth! One ground & one sky, no god but US … all of us. One God, if that makes sense to you. But one god and one human population, and certainly one earth and one immeasurable ecology. Many fragile ecosystems.
Then again, this could be a total smoke screen. I don’t know. Where do emotions come from? Love — loving relationships, including friendships and family relations, and conviction. I may be crazy and overly ambitious, but I believe that I’m right about a lot of things. And that conviction can only bring good — positive emotions, powerful healing actions, and by grassroots viral uplifting co-operative teamwork, we can at least be ready for the revolution when it comes knocking. Because it’s coming. I’m sure of it. In many forms perhaps. But the writing is on the wall.
Don’t get caught up in searching for the perfect emotion. Be thankful for all of the ones you have, be true to them, and allow that time and dedication — and love — can bring you the alchemy to raise them all to joyful, humorous, enthusiastic and activated vibrations that you can be aware of, choose, and go toward again and again.
I’m trying to be the least “woo-woo” about this as possible. It feels very real to me. I hope you feel some wisdoms hiding here too.