Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[Risper Ouma Lisa Anyango]

This can only be achieved by using your head more than your heart and bodily desires. Emotions can either be your doom or your biggest victory. Am glad I read this today because lately, I have been letting my emotions take control.

[Risper Ouma Lisa Anyango]

The truth is that you have to sometimes ignore your feelings and think. Use your head instead of emotions. And I like the phrase of humans take seriously things made for fun. Life is supposed to be fun

[Stephen Christopher 1]

It's interesting, I use this concept when watching a movie, my husband fears the ghost on the screen will come into the room, but I remind him and I that it's just a movie. Yet when the children who live in our apartment block play in the pool and start screeching and screaming, I can't control the anger in my body. So now I'm aware that my ears are hearing this noise and my body is choosing to react to it, so now I can be aware and I'm working on letting it become white noise.

[Alida Spies]

I understand the reference to fear and courage. If there is no fear, no courage is required, it's just performing something that you want to do. The concept of acknowledging a craving as something your body wants but not your true self, is interesting.

[Ruka N]

It is worth learning. Indeed, we have to learn to not let our feelings control us. After all, "those who attach themselves to their egos and thoughts and such are making the same mistake as one who attaches themself to a literal heart and its literal beating." Thank you!

It is worth it. And that quote resonates to a person's very core.

[Ruka N]

This is very helpful. I have issues with emotional compulsion more than temptation. I look forward to applying them, especially when my compulsion leads me to procrastinate.

[Priyankan Nayak]

I very much like the idea of noticing your feelings as if you are pointing them to yourself or are getting pointed out by someone. This makes you conscious of the feelings and emotions that you are experiencing at that particular moment.

[Shirley Labzentis]

Dear Scott, The following quote that you made has me puzzled. I would like for you to go into more depth concerning this quote.

Instead of saying, "I feel fear/anger", you can say, "I notice my body's fight-or-flight response has been engaged a bit", or just, "I notice my body is feeling fear," or, "I notice my body is feeling anger, which is a specific type of fear, specifically the fightier side of the fight-or-flight response." (Indeed, a rageaholic is just a specific type of coward.)

Why do you say that anger is a specific type of fear and that a rageaholic is a specific type of coward? I, myself, is an Italian with a very strong temper. I can go from 0-100 in seconds if someone does something or says something that I don't like. Why would you say that I am a coward or that I am fearful? Please explain your thought process on this.

[Victor Obonyo]

Being attentive while being distant from what is going on. However, being alert and capable of carrying out the practicable acts that the situation necessitates... the rest is beyond our control, and it is best not to put any negative energy into it.

[BRIGID Wandera]

It is worth learning. Indeed, we have to learn to not let our feelings control us. After all, "those who attach themselves to their egos and thoughts and such are making the same mistake as one who attaches themself to a literal heart and its literal beating." Thank you!

[rudi dani]

Look, I appreciate the deep philosophy, but all this "two yous" and "spiritual slavery" talk feels overly complicated. Sometimes a craving is just a craving. Maybe instead of overthinking it, acknowledging the feeling ("I'm feeling hungry") and finding a healthy way to deal with it (having a snack) is a simpler approach? Don't get me wrong, self-control is important, but all this detachment can feel a little out of touch with reality.

[Jeff Kanda]

Wow! I've thought of it and I agree with you. We sometimes stay longer feeling depressed or sad about something because we choose to ignore the emotion. From now onwards, I will be acknowledge every single emotion and treat my mind and body as separate entities.

[Gladis Ratish Kumar]

It is crucial to distance ourselves from certain feelings and bodily urges to prevent them from controlling us. By resisting these impulses, we can maintain inner peace.

[Sandeep Moses]

The concept of 'I feel...' into 'I notice..' is a simple, but powerful statement. We can keep telling this to our minds and reprogram it. I am going to try out this idea whenever I deal with cravings. Thanks for the great insight, Scott!

[Thomas D Flowers]

Hmm! This concept of standing at a distance and look at ones emotions and laugh at it sounds simle yet deep. I think before this concept works and realistic, one must have resolved to stop the heavy emotion or urge.