Paying Attention to the "Red Flags" of Negative Emotions- Doing it Our Way
Posted: Tuesday, September 07, 2010
by Ella Camp
The question is not- do we have flaws and faults in our character; but what are they, and what do we do about them? For all have flaws; and fall short of the perfection of God.
At times throughout life, we will receive notice of our still-abiding shortcomings. Like pop-ups on a computer screen, they will continue to flash into our lives until we pay attention, admit their existence, and endeavor to overcome them. This is a constant duty to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well-being.
"Emotions are inseparable from the ideas of reward or punishment, personal advantage or disadvantage." "In organisms equipped to have feelings- emotions have an effect on the mind as they occur in the here-and-now- emotion is devoted to an organism's survival."
"Emotions have their own rules," says psychologist John Mayer. "They are universal."
According to scientific neurological studies, there appears to be a direct link between the emotions of primates and humans. When mammals are happy; they approach; when angry or frightened; they attack or escape; when sad; they disengage. The basic difference is that the human brain possesses the ability to think and reason beyond emotion. Thus emotion alerts attention, which may engender problem solving learning. Since our spiritual nature is entwined with our mental and physical networks; the "condition" of the spirit may affect our ability and desire to acquire this learning.
Our emotions and feelings may remain unconscious until a negative reaction brings them to our consciousness, where we are given the opportunity to control and change them from negativity to positivity.
Extreme emotional reactions to any situation; or "red flags," if you will; can speed-up our recognition of harmful negative emotions; they are, perhaps, engineered to do just that.
We cannot "deal" with something that has not been brought to our notice. Emotions activate our attention. Since our attention is so diversely splintered on a daily basis- a euphemistical "slap" may be unavoidably necessary.
Emotion is our unconscious biological thermostat. When we automatically display a negative reaction to an experience in life; we are, in effect, receiving a "red flag" in which an occasion for improvement is offered. False pride in our accumulated knowledge and understanding of life may preclude our recognition of this golden opportunity.
When we encounter extreme emotional reactions within ourselves, the response of our brain is to automatically pump the chemicals that were released to confront the original similar situation stored in our long-term memory bank; and even though the original danger is no longer present, may automatically perceive that information as threatening and react with the identical emotions to the present event.
These pop-ups or flags- will continue to appear in our conscious mind when coded with the content of our past experiences. We are continually being reminded that we have not yet rid ourselves of every vestige of thought and emotion which may be harmful to our best thinking and behavior. That we are always a work in progress; no matter how much we have learned and think we know. We are in fact motivated by an emotional flavor, rather than a logical one.
When an unconscious emotional arousal which we instinctively recognize as negative and harmful, reaches our conscious mind; we then have the window of opportunity for the option to ignore them in their raging exposure; or focus on their cause from past memory, and gain conscious control over them. What this does in effect, is create a conscious barrier against repetitive copying of the same emotional reactions in our brain. In this manner, we can keep what we want; and block the effect of the rest. Control.
No emotion we experience is all negative or all positive. They are, as is everything else on this earth- two sides of the same golden coin that is the complex, yet amazing- human being. Constant observation and attendance is necessary for the good husbandry of our own individual garden of life. It is our particular project- which we must attend in devoted and earnest perseverance. But there are times when we may be alerted to a possible unrecognized implication of dereliction of duty, by another of our fellow farmers. This is the manner in which we interact to aid each other in our efforts here on earth. We are our brother's and sister's keepers.
There are no magic bullets; magic wands; or magic incantations- in the end, we realize that we must do it our way- by trial and error- the human way.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)EllaI like the reference to the pop ups on the computer screen. I was taught they are like tissues. Every time you pull one out another pops out.I do an inventory of "baggage" in depth every six months and a shorter one daily to try and eliminate the perceptions.Awesome introspective article.mwahThank you so much- kind of you to read and comment Carla- Always- Ella
Wonderfully said Ella. I especially liked the part where you said we are motivated by emotional flavor and not a logical one.GraceThanks Grace- It's not whether or not we have the same emotions- we all do- it's how we control and direct those emotions that is different- You understand this-from human experience- Always- Ella
Wonderful article, Ella. Very few people seem to write about emotions as in the least bit useful. I get so tired of people judging them and trying to suppress them. I love that you say their are neither negative or positive. I think they're our primary tool, they tell us the truth. And no magic, just life. Fabulous, thanks.And thank you, my friend- as usual I am pleased and gratified by your response- Always- Ella
Yes, we learn a lot through trial and error Ella. Good article thanks for sharingI am pleased to see you David- Thanks so much for your reading and comment- do come back!- Always- Ella
Magnificent in content, and flawless in delivery and interpretation. I am humbled by your service to the human condition, and look forward to more of your enlightened wisdom. Thank you.And I am delighted by your appreciative response- You know how to make a girl feel goooood! Thanks bunches..........Always- Ella
Very good article Ella. Learning to control my emotions and knowing what my triggers in life are helped to keep me sane, along with the grace of God. , Linda DThank you Linda- it's always gratifing to see someone who works on themselves- you seem to be continually doing that- God helps those who help themselves.-Please do come back again- You are more than welcome.... Always- Ella
Dear Ella!Emotion is the most fragile part of a person's whole being. Taking care of that fragile part is very necessary and you have 'handled it with care.' Very effective & helpful article.RegardsCPOur emotions manifest to ourselves, and to others, who we are as human beings- good maintinence on ourselves is just as , if not more important than maintaining our cars and homes...........Thank you so much Chiradeep- you do indeed seem to BE deep!- Come again- anytime- Always- Ella
Ella--I am printing this out for my 2 "intellectual teenage sons". Their emotions are all over the place and I have reminded them of several of your quotes...So much of what you wrote hit home...I just pray it will with them and that "Mom" isn't the only one who thinks this way...Thank you....Always...KaliI heartily thank you for the honor you do me by your acknowledgment and response- If this article in any way helps someone- I have, in some small way, accomplished my goal in writing it- Thank you- and please come again...... Always- Ella
Great article Ella. So many times we blame our feelings on others. He makes me feel inadequate, or she makes me feel insecure. When in fact, our feelings are, like you said, our feelings. Usually we are our own worst enemies. It's much easier to see our faults than our positive traits. I wish there were magic wands, but you're right, we must do it our way, one day at a time.Hi Brianna!- I've missed you lately- Thanks so much for reading-I always appreciate your comments- Always- Ella
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