Forecast 75% Chance of an Emotional Storm
There are four primary emotions, happy, sad, fear & anger.
The first one – happy – is positive and generates a continuum of euphoria. This continuum starts near serenity and extends to leaping in the air with a fist pump. Life is good.
The final three – sad, anger & fear – are negative and result in & from a risk to our well-being. These risks extend across phyiscal, mental, & spiritual yielding an emotional storm. Life should be better.
An emotional storm occurs when our reaction is processed first through the amygdala. The amygdala is our primitive brain yielding the 3F options – Fight, Flight or Freeze. When our lives are at risk, completely appropriate. But if there isn’t a saber toothed tiger in the room, 3F activation can be, and usually is, inappropriate.
Emotional storms move into one of three states – hijacked, flooded and mood. The hijacked state is like a tornado, brief, intense, and with a path of damage. Flooded is less intense, with hindsight and foresight, we see or should have seen it coming. Moods are the multiple day gray skies that move into and out of our life. Some moods are even seasonal. We find ourselves funkified. Self-analysis and reflection become useful once we become aware of the funk.
The answer is to prime, develop and implement our own emotional intelligence. Look ahead and anticipate events based on past history that yielded an emotional storm. After an emotional storm, sit down and write until the answer(s) become revealed. During a storm, pause, pause, pause. Get your neocortex – the thinking and rational brain – back in the game.
Me? I am starting to read Pema Chodron’s book – Comfortable With Uncertainty. For as much as we plan, anticipate, practice and implement, the next moment will always be uncertain.
From Chodron’s book:
May all sentient beings enjoy happiness and the root of happiness.
May we be free from suffering and the the root of suffering.
May we not be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering.
May we dwell in the great equanimity free from passion, aggression and prejudice.
