EMOTIONAL SEE-SAW

 

by Randy Riis

 

     Many people live in a constant undulation of emotion throughout most of their lives, and never realize what they are needlessly putting themselves through. Things “go right” one day, and these people enjoy good feelings; the next day may bring different feelings which they would call “in the dumps.” Up and down they go. Those who enjoy the highest peaks of rapture often tarn out to be the ones who also reach the deepest pits of despair. This undulating nature is something everyone can eventually recognize, find the cause of, and learn to control.

     Most people realize there are times when they experience especially joyful feelings, and there are times which are depressing to an equal extent. Since emotions are real, most people would rather enjoy those they consider good and alleviate those they consider bad. Why does anyone live in such an unstable manner, not knowing from one day to the next what kind of emotions they will encounter?

     Those who ride this see-saw have programmed themselves to react to persons, places and things in their environment in a prescribed manner. Since childhood they have assigned their emotions to the events in their environment fully believing that those things outside of themselves were the cause of their feelings. Almost every day emotions are attached to something in their environment. The expression, “This bad weather makes me feel caged in,” or “he makes me happy,” are examples of giving credit to something outside themselves for an inner feeling. In essence they are letting their environment control their lives. If the weather or another person really was the cause of emotion and had the power to cause gladness or sadness, then everyone would react the same way to each of the different types of environment every time — which is obviously not true. The summer rain to the farmer growing a crop has a far different meaning than to the girl planning to spend the day on the beach. The rain means prosperity to the farmer, but disappointment to the girl. However, the joy of the farmer and the depression of the girl are their own doing, not the rain’s. Emotions are a quality of Mind and are controlled by the individual. Whatever emotions a person has pertaining to the weather or to other people is dependent upon the program that person has developed for himself. Nothing outside themselves can cause them to become emotional.

     Those who are still living in this uncertain undulating life style might ask themselves, “Am I giving my environment the power to make me happy or sad?” If they find it so, then they may decide to jump off their see-saw onto more stable ground where they can more easily climb the gradual incline which leads to human perfection.

 

 

 

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