As humans, we are the most rational of all the world’s
created beings. Marvellous as they are, frogs, dogs, cats and donkeys don’t
have our capacity to reason. Yet, even with all our powers of logic and
rationality, we’re also emotional beings. One could argue, justifiably, that
emotions rule our lives to much greater extent than reason does or ever could.
So often , instead of being in control of
our emotions, they control us, even to the point of pushing us into radically
wrong choices that cause us even more grief and sorrow .Fortunately, that that
doesn’t always need to be the case.
Emotions are vital part of human personality. They can be powerful motivators, both for good and evil. And depending on the emotions they can make us happy, sad, fearful, or joyous.
Positive emotions can bring feelings of satisfaction and well being; negative ones tend to cause anguish and pain.
Though the first ones can promote mental health, a prolonged exposure to negative emotions may bring a bout behavioural and relational problem. Thus emotions can play a vital part in our overall well-being.
It’s
crucial, that we learn more about our emotions and how they impact our lives.
Negative Emotions.
In
midst of turmoil, people end up much physical and
emotional pain on one another. The consequences of these behaviours can impact
even the future generation.
When
have you experienced hatred, sadness, fear, rage, or jealousy? How did you deal
with them? What do you wish you had done differently?
Scientists have observed that Negative
emotional states, such as hatred, worry, fear, rage, and jealousy, produce
immediate physiological responses: a pounding heart, tense muscle, dryness of
the mouth, cold sweat, “butterflies” in the stomach, and other physical
manifestations.
Long time exposure to these symptoms has
been associated with cardiac and digestive complications.
In contrast, positive emotions such as
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, are associated with a
sense of well being, a positive out look, and an optimal relation ship with
others.
In positive psychology a newly developed
branch of psychology, they have observed evidence that harbouring certain
negative emotions will adversely affect health and longevity; in contrast, the
promotion of positive out look can promote health and longevity. In other
wards, the more positive your outlook and emotions, the better overall health
you can enjoy. and emotions
How
has been you own experience with how your emotional state impacts your actions?
Why
is it wise not to make important decisions amid a flurry of emotions, be they
positive or negative?
Anxiety
Anxiety,
or fear about what may happen, is one of the most dangerous emotions for mental
and physical health.
A medieval legend tells of a traveller who
one night met fear and plague on their way to London, where they expected to
kill 10,000 people. The traveller asked
Plague if he would do all the killing.”Oh no” Plague answered. “I shall
kill only a few hundreds .My friend Fear will kill the rest.
Fear and anxiety are very common. They also
are frequent destructive and painful.
Developmental psychologists have confirmed
that infants from early life face definite fears, mostly of going hungry and
sharp noises. Growing children and adolescents go through a variety of fears,
as well: fear animals, of darkness, of being alone, fear of school-related
situations, separation from parents, fear of not growing up, or of being
rejected by pears. Adults also are subject to common apprehensions associated
with their particular life circumstances: fear of not being a suitable life
pattern, of not finding the right job, of terrorist attacks, of contracting a
chronic or fatal disease, of being assaulted, of dying, etc.
Common anxiety symptoms include
apprehension,worry,insomnia,jitters,tension,headaches,fatigue,dizziness,palpitations,breathlessness,sweating,difficulty
in concentrating, and hyper vigilance. Anxiety may also come with panic
attacks.
Principles of how you can protect your self from Fear
and anxiety
1. Keep
things in perspective.
A hectic schedule may make us loose sight
of the truly important things. Daily routine may destruct us from what we
believe to be fundamental.
2. Become
inspired by simple things from nature.
Sparrows and Lilies are among the most
common things in nature. Jesus choose them as a contrast to the immense
complexity of human beings .It is obvious that sparrows do not worry about tomorrow
and that Lilies do not toil to obtain the latest fashion; yet, they are well
taken care of “ will he not much more cloth you?”(matt6:25-33)
3. Worry
is useless and pointless.
Examining problems in order to find
possible solutions may be productive but worrying for the sake of worrying not
only does nothing to solve the issue but magnifies the negative side of things.
4. Straighten
your priorities.
Some times we may be caught up in the whirl
of materialism or other things that can distract them from what really matters
in life.
Winston Churchill said “ I remember the story
of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his
life, most of which had never
happened”__http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/political/ Winston_ Churchill.
5. Take one day at a time.
One of the keys for living one day at a
time is contentment, an effective ant- node for worry. Contentment is not an
inheritable attitude but acquired characteristics.
In this day and age, in which we face so
many problems, there is a need to develop a sense of contentment for what we
presently have and not to worry about what might come tomorrow.
The following shows the various things that
make up an average persons anxiety.
Anxious individuals focus on:
1. Fifty percent of events that will never
happen.
2. Twenty-five percent of occurrences of
the past that can not be changed.
3. Ten percent about unconfirmed criticism
by others.
4. Ten percent about health (much of it
apprehensive)
5. Five percent about real problems that
will bee faced.
Take a look at the things that worry you. What
are the concerns that you can have a part in fixing? What things are
absolutely beyond your control? Do what you can fix, what you cannot then ask
the Lord to help you learn to trust Him for the rest.