All of us wants happiness and wish to avoid suffering. The key to happiness lies in
our own state of mind, so too do the primary obstacle to that happiness. The
greatest impediments to our happiness and our ability to live a peaceful and fulfilling
life are our own persistent tendencies towards afflictive emotions like anger, hatred,
envy and jealousy which are real enemies of human well-being and behaviour.
Understanding destructive emotions and knowing that we as human beings actually
can free ourselves from these help us to handle these emotions confidently. Some
may argue that we are completely determined by biology- hardwired in certain ways
and that afflictive emotions are part of our nature. We can’t do anything about
them. If such is the case, we would remain slaves to them always.
All religions have long recognised that human beings possess the capacity to change
from within. Indian spiritual traditions are replete with such stories as of Balmiki
transforming from a hunter to Sanskrit scholar or Angulimal from cruel dacoit to a
follower of Buddha or Tulsidas from a lustful laymen to great poet of Sanskrit
language.
Recent discovery of ‘brain plasticity’ have demonstrated sufficient evidences and
offered a scientific explanation for this possibility of above meaningful change.
Researchers have observed that patterns and structures of the brain can and do
change over time in response to our thoughts and experiences. To remain
emotionally ok with ourselves or with others, we need to understand and continue to
work with our negative emotions consciously and train ourselves to bring about
positive transformation.
Biologically, all our basic emotions evidently have evolutionary purposes.
Attachment brings us together and create bonds giving us family and society. Anger
repels harmful forces- detrimental to our survival, fear alerts us against a threat,
and envy prompts us for the competitions which in turn brings about progress. So
scientifically these emotions have positive aspect and biological dimensions. In case
of happening of any of these emotions, we become biologically prepared by way of
rush of blood to our legs when we are in fear and we have to run away or in case of
anger we get prepared to confront the situation by more blood going to our arms
and fists.
Emotions have dual aspect. All of them have destructive and non-destructive sides
both. For example, Anger can be used in certain circumstance without getting
violent to get the things done and obtain that which we rightly seek. Going beyond
this practical function, it turns to destructive side. Gandhi ji understood well this
practical function of anger and used it as positive force to get freedom and for
political reforms. Like-wise doubt enables us to seek enquiry and understanding but
when it becomes pathological, it paralyses and prevents us to take decisive action.
Competition too can be constructive leading to progress if not driven by ego.
Once we are able to recognise the destructive side of emotions, our sense of caution
would improve which in turn create emotional awareness in ourselves. We have to
be attentive in our behaviour at the level of body, speech and most important-mind.
Our initial efforts should be that our destructive emotions are not reflected in our
body language. It would help us to catch ourselves before explosion and exercise
restraint. This is the stage where you can look back and go to the source of arising
of strong emotion. You now may be able to reinterpret in positive way the thought
which initially triggered existing negative emotions. Your awareness would guard
you against instinctive interpretations clouded by exaggeration and projection, thus
enabling you to respond calmly and in realistic way.
NEWS4EXCHANGE.COM 