Why is it that emotions have such a profound impact on us?
My entire perspective on life can be changed by a little bit of food sometimes. I'll get cranky because I'm hungry, and I'll decide I hate my job and that I'm a failure at everything and that I have no friends. Then, I eat a cracker, and Life is Good.
Really, though, isn't that disturbing? We make massive, drastic decisions all the time, and occasionally a decision that seems totally logical and thought out at the time seems like a spurt of whimsy the next morning. Maybe self-awareness is an illusion or a construct like a kiddy steering wheel mounted to the back of the seat of reality so our subconscious can take the wheel and have some peace and quiet during our easy distraction.
Maybe the Vulcan way - total mastery of emotions - is the answer. How can I be sure of anything if my logic amounts to little more than rationalization of my moment-to-moment partiality? Seems like maybe the hedonist takes the easy (and probably more realistic and honest) route, while the rest of us our just kidding ourselves. I tend to take the indecision route - I'm not sure about anything, and maybe if I change my mind often enough I'll convince myself that I'm really steering this boondoggle.
My entire perspective on life can be changed by a little bit of food sometimes. I'll get cranky because I'm hungry, and I'll decide I hate my job and that I'm a failure at everything and that I have no friends. Then, I eat a cracker, and Life is Good.
Really, though, isn't that disturbing? We make massive, drastic decisions all the time, and occasionally a decision that seems totally logical and thought out at the time seems like a spurt of whimsy the next morning. Maybe self-awareness is an illusion or a construct like a kiddy steering wheel mounted to the back of the seat of reality so our subconscious can take the wheel and have some peace and quiet during our easy distraction.
Maybe the Vulcan way - total mastery of emotions - is the answer. How can I be sure of anything if my logic amounts to little more than rationalization of my moment-to-moment partiality? Seems like maybe the hedonist takes the easy (and probably more realistic and honest) route, while the rest of us our just kidding ourselves. I tend to take the indecision route - I'm not sure about anything, and maybe if I change my mind often enough I'll convince myself that I'm really steering this boondoggle.
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