OUR THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION

 

                                                  MIND AND BODY

                                                           MEDITATION

                                                  ❤

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                 👉  *    CONSIDER HOW QUICKLY ALL THINGS ARE DISSOLVED AND RESOLVED. THE BODIES AND SUBSTANCES THEMSELVES, INTO THE MATTER AND SUBSTANCE OF THE WORLD, AND THEIR MEMORIES INTO THE GENERAL AGE AND TIME OF THE WORLD. CONSIDER THE NATURE OF ALL WORLDLY SENSIBLE THINGS, OF THOSE ESPECIALLY, WHICH EITHER ENSNARE BY PLEASURE, OR FOR THEIR IRKSOMENESS ARE DREADFUL, OR FOR THEIR OUTWARD LUSTRE AND SHOW ARE IN GREAT ESTEEM AND REQUEST, HOW VILE AND COMTEMPTIBLE, HOW BASE AND CORRUPTIBLE, HOW DESTITUTE OF ALL TRUE LIFE AND BEING THEY ARE .

                                                  ❤

                👉  *   IT IS THE PART OF A MAN ENDOWED WITH A GOOD UNDERSTANDING FACULTY, TO CONSIDER WHAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE IN VERY DEED, FROM WHOSE BARE CONCEITS AND VOICES, HONOUR AND CREDIT DO PROCED. AS ALSO WHAT IT IS TO DIE, AND HOW IF A MAN SHALL CONSIDER THIS BY ITSELF ALONE, TO DIE, AND SEPARATE FROM IT IN HIS MIND ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH WITH IT USUALLY REPRESENT THEMSELVES UNTO US, HE CAN CONCEIVE OF IT NO OTHERWISE, THAN AS OF A WORK OF NATURE, AND HE THAT FEARS ANY WORK OF NATURE, IS A VERY CHILD. NOW DEATH, IT IS NOT ONLY A WORK OF NATURE, BUT ALSO CONDUCING OF NATURE.

                                                  ❤

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                 👉  *   CONSIDER WITH THYSELF HOW MAN, AND BY WHAT PART OF HIS, IS JOINED UNTO GOD, AND HOW THAT PART OF MAN IS AFFECTED, WHEN IT IS SAID TO BE DIFFUSED. THERE IS NOTHING MORE WRETCHED THAN THAT SOUL, WHICH IN A KIND OF CIRCUIT COMPASSET ALL THINGS, SEARCHING  (AS HE SAITH) EVEN THE VERY DEPTHS OF THE EARTH, AND BY ALL SIGNS AND CONJECTURES PRYING INTO THE VERY THOUGHTS OF OTHER MEN'S SOULS, AND YET OF THIS, IS NOT SENSIBLE THAT IT IS SUFFICIENT FOR A MAN TO APPLY HIMSELF WHOLLY, AND TO CONFINE ALL HIS THOUGHTS AND CARES TO THE TENDANCE OF THAT SPIRIT WHICH IS WITHIN HIM, AND TRULY AND REALLY TO SERVE HIM. HIS SERVICE DOTH CONSIST IN THIS, THAT A MAN KEEP HIMSELF PURE FROM ALL VIOLENT PASSION AND EVIL AFFECTION, FROM ALL RASHNESS AND VANITY, AND FROM ALL MANNER OF DISCONTENT, EITHER IN REGARD OF THE GODS OR MEN. FOR INDEED WHATSOVER PROCEEDS FROM THE GODS, DESERVES RESPECT FOR THEIR WORTH AND EXCELLENCY, AND WHATSOVER PROCEEDS FROM MEN, AS THEY ARE OUR KINSMEN, SHOULD BY US BE ENTERTAINED, WITH LOVE, ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, AS PROCEEDING FROM THEIR IGNORANCE, OF THAT WHICH IS TRULY GOOD AND BAD, (A BLINDNESS NO LESS, THAN THAT BY WHICH WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DISCERN BETWEEN WHICH AND BLACK), WITH A KIND OF PITY AND COMPASSION ALSO.

                                                 ❤

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                 👉  *  IF THOU SHOULDST LIVE THREE THOUSAND, OR AS MANY AS TEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS, YET REMEMBER THIS, THAT MAN CAN PART WITH NO LIFE PROPERLY, SAVE WITH THAT LITTLE PART OF LIFE, WHICH HE NOW LIVES, AND THAT WHICH HE LIVES, IS NO OTHER, THAN THAT WHICH AT EVERY INSTANT HE PARTS WITH. THAT THEN WHICH IS LONGEST OF DURATION, AND THAT WHICH IS SHORTEST, COME BOTH TO ONE EFFECT. FOR ALTHOUGH IN REGARD OF THAT WHICH IS ALREADY PAST THERE MAY BE SOME INEQUALITY, YET THAT TIME WHICH IS NOW PRESENT AND IN BEING , IS EQUAL UNTO ALL MEN. AND THAT BEING IT WHICH WE PART WITH WHENSOEVER WE DIE, IT DOTH MANIFESTLY APPEAR, THAT IT CAN BE BUT A MOMENT OF TIME, THAT WE THEN PART WITH. FOR AS FOR THAT WHICH IS EITHER PAST OR TO COME, A MAN CANNOT BE SAID PROPERLY TO PART WITH IT.  FOR HOW SHOULD A MAN PART WITH THAT WHICH HE HATH NO? 

                                                ❤

                             THESE TWO THINGS THEREFORE THOU MUST REMEMBER, FIRST, THAT ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD FROM  ALL ETERNITY, BY A PERPETUAL REVOLUTION OF THE SAME TIMES AND THINGS EVER CONTINUED AND RENEWED, ARE OF ONE KIND AND NATURE, SO THAT WHETHER FOR A HUNDRED OR TWO HUNDRED YEARS ONLY, OR FOR AN INFINITE SPACE OF TIME, A MAN SEE THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE STILL THE SAME, IT CAN BE NO MATTER OF GREAT MOMENT. AND SECONDLY, THAT THAT LIFE WHICH ANY THE LONGEST LIVER, OR THE SHORTEST LIVER PARTS WITH, IS FOR LENGTH AND DURATION THE VERY SAME, FOR THAT ONLY WHICH IS PRESENT, IS THAT, WHICH EITHER OF THEM CAN LOSE, AS BEING THAT ONLY WHICH THEY HAVE, FOR THAT WHICH HE HATH NOT, NO MAN CAN TRULY BE SAID TO LOSE.

                                                ❤

                   👉  *   REMEMBER THAT ALL IS BUT OPINION AND CONCEIT, FOR THOSE THINGS ARE PLAIN AND APPARENT, WHICH WERE SPOKEN UNTO MONIMUS THE CYNIC, AND AS PLAIN AND APPARENT IS THE USE THAT MAY BE MADE OF THOSE THINGS, IF THAT WHICH IS TRUE AND SERIOUS IN THEM, BE RECEIVED AS WELL AS THAT WHICH IS SWEET AND PLEASING.

                                                ❤

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                        👉  *  A MAN MUST NOT ONLY CONSIDER HOW DAILY HIS LIFE WASTETH AND DECREASETH, BUT THIS ALSO, THAT IF HE LIVE LONG, HE CANNOT BE CERTAIN, WHETHER HIS UNDERSTANDING SHALL CONTINUE SO ABLE AND SUFFICIENT, FOR EITHER DISCREET CONSIDERATION, IN MATTER OF BUSINESSESS, OR FOR COMTEMPLATION, IT BEING THE THING, WHEREON TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN, DOTH DEPEND. FOR IF ONCE HE SHALL BEGIN TO DOTH, HIS RESPIRATION, NUTRITION, HIS IMAGINATIVE, AND APPETITIVE, AND OTHER NATURAL FACULTIES, MAY STILL CONTINUE THE SAME, HE SHALL FIND NO WANT OF THEM. BUT HOW TO MAKE THAT RIGHT USE OF HIMSELF THAT HE SHOULD, HOW TO OBSERVE EXACTLY IN ALL THINGS THAT WHICH IS RIGHT AND JUST, HOW TO REDRESS AND RECTIFY ALL WRONG, OR SUDDEN APPREHENSIONS AND IMAGINATIONS, AND EVEN OF THIS PARTICULAR, WHETHER HE SHOULD LIVE ANY LONGER OR NO, TO CONSIDER DULY, FOR ALL SUCH THINGS, WHEREIN THE BEST STRENGTH AND VIGOUR OF THE MIND IS MOST REQUISITE, HIS POWER AND ABILITY WILL BE PAST AND GONE. THOU MUST HASTEN THEREFORE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THOU ART EVERY DAY NEARER UNTO DEATH THAN OTHER, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THAT INTELLECTIVE FACULTY IN THEE, WHEREBY THOU ART ENABLED TO KNOWTHE TRUE NATURE OF THINGS, AND RO ORDER ALL THY ACTIONS ALL THY ACTIONS BY THAT KNOWLEDGE , DOTH DAILY WASTE AND DECAY, OR MAY FAIL THEE BEFORE THOU DIE.

                                                ❤

                     👉  *  DO NOTHING AGAINST THY WILL, NOR CONTRARY TO THE COMMUNITY, NOR WITHOUT DUE EXAMINATION, NOR WITH RELUCTANCY. AFFECT NOT TO SET OUT THY THOUGHTS WITH CURIOUS NEAT LANGUAGE. BE NEITHER A GREAT TALKER, NOR A GREAT UNDERTAKER. MOREOVER, LET THY GOD THAT IS IN THEE TO RULE OVER THEE, FIND BY THEE, THAT HE HATH TO DO WITH A MAN, AN AGED MAN, A SOCIABLE MAN, THAT HE HATH TO DO WITH A MAN, AGED MAN, A SOCIABLE MAN, A ROMAN, A PRINCE, ONE THAT HATH ORDERED HIS LIFE, AS ONE THAT EXPECTETH, AS IT WERE, NOTHING BUT THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET, SOUNDING A RETREAT TO DEPART OUT OF THIS LIFE WITH ALL EXPEDITION. ONE WHO FOR HIS WORD OR ACTIONS NEITHER NEEDS AN OATH, NOR ANY MAN TO BE A WITNESS. 

                                                ❤

                     👉  *  TO BE CHEERFUL, AND TO STAND IN NO NEED, EITHER OF OTHER MEN'S HELP OR ATTENDANCE, OR OF THAT REST AND TRANQUILLITY, WHICH THOU MUST BE BEHOLDING TO OTHERS FOR. RATHER LIKE ONE THAT IS STRAIGHT OF HIMSELF. OR HATH EVER BEEN STRAIGHT, THAN ONE THAT HATH BEEN RECTIFIED.

THE NATURE GUIDANCE

 

                                      

                      OBEDIENCE OF LAWS OF NATURE

                                     

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                                                      ❤

                     ANOTHER STRIKING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE THINGS IS THEIR OBEDIENCE FO THE LAWS FRAMED BY THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE. THE FOLLOWING REVELATION SHOWS THAT EACH THING HAS ITS OWN CHARACTERISTIC NATURE AND A BUILT-IN GUIDANCE SYSTEM.

                     OUR LORD IS HE 

                     WHO GAVE TO EACH THING,

                     ITS FORM AND NATURE,

                    AND THEN GAVE IT GUIDANCE.

                   

                   VERSE 54 POINT OUT THAT WORKING OF EVERY THING IS ALSO REGULATED ACCORDING TO A PRE-DETERMINED DESTINY, PROGRAMMED IN THE CONSCIENCE OF THINGS.

                     EVERY MATTER,

                   HAS ITS APPOINTED TIME,

                   AND COURSE 

               ESSENCE OF LIFE :

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                    FROM THE ABOVE VERSES, FOLLOWING  REALITIES ABOUT THE NATURE OF THINGS ARE QUITE OBVIOUS. THESE ARE THE ESSENCE OF LIFE.

                     (A) THAT ALL THINGS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOGNISE THEIR CREATOR AND THUS PRAISE HIM AND FEAR HIM.

                      (B) THAT WITHIN ALL THINGS ALLAH HAS BUILT BASIC CHARACTERISTICS WHICH GUIDE THEM IN THEIR FUNCTIONS, AND GIVE THEM CONCIENCE TO RECOGNISE OTHER THINGS WHICH MAY BE TERMED AS "MIND" OF THINGS.

                    (C) THAT OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE LAWS BY EACH AND EVERY BIT OF THE UNIVERSE IS IN THE VERY NATURE OF THINGS AND THEY ARE CONSCIOUS OF IT. THUS THINGS HAVE ABILITY TO RECOGNISE OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE TO THEM.

                      THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES IN THE 20 THE CENTURY THAT OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS OF NATURE, IS INGRAINED IN THE VERY NATURE OF MATTER. EACH AND EVERY MOVE, EVEN AT THE LEVEL OF THE VERY ELEMENTARY PARTICLES IS GOVERNED BY THESE LAWS. THAT IS, THAT THEY RECOGNISE THE DICTATES OF THE NATURAL LAWS, AND ARE CONSCIOUS OF OBEYING THEM. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE. ACCORDINGLY EVERYTHING IS LIVING. THEY DIFFER IN THEIR DEGREE OF LIVING ONLY.

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                             

MEDITATION USES

 

                                   

                                  THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATIONS

                                                    👀

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                            * AS MY GRANDFATHER VERUS, I HAVE LEARNED TO BE GENTLE AND MEEK, AND TO REFRAIN FROM ALL ANGER AND PASSION. FROM THE FAME AND MEMORY OF HIM THAT BEGOT ME, I HAVE LEARNED BOTH SHAME-FASTNESS AND MANLIKE BEHAVIOUR. OF MY MOTHER, I HAVE LEARNED TO BE RELIGIOUS, AND BOUNTIFUL, AND TO FORBEAR, NOT ONLY TO DO, BUT TO INTEND MY EVIL, TO CONTENT MYSELF WITH A SPARE DIET, AND TO FLY ALL SUCH EXCESS AS IN INCIDENTAL TO GREAT WEALTH. OF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, BOTH TO FREQUENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AUDITORIUMS, AND TO GET ME GOOD AND ABLE TEACHERS AT HOME, AND THAT I OUGHT NOT TO THINK MUCH, IF UPON SUCH OCCASIONS, I WERE AT EXCESSIVE CHARGES.

                                       

                                                    👀

                           *  OF HIM THAT BROUGHT ME UP, NOT TO BE FONDLY ADDICTED TO EITHER OF THE TWO GREAT FACTIONS OF THE COURSES IN THE CIRCUS, CALLED PRASINI, AND VENETI, NOR IN THE AMPHITHEATRE PARTIALLY TO FAVOUR ANY OF THE GLADIATORS, OR FENCERS, AS EITHER THE PARMULARI, OR THE SECUTORES. MOREOVER, TO ENDURE LABOUR, NOR TO NEED MANY THINGS, WHEN I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO, TO DO IT MYSELF RATHER THAN BY OTHERS, NOT TO MEDDLE WITH MANY BUSINESSESS, AND NOT EASILY TO ADMIT OF SLANDER.

                                                                           👀

                         * OF DIOGNETUS, NOT TO BUSY MYSELF VAIN THINGS, AND NOT EASILY TO BELIEVE THOSE THINGS, WHICH ARE COMMONLY SPOKEN, BY SUCH AS TAKE UPON THEM TO WORK WONDERS, AND BY SORCERERS, OR PRESTIDIGITATORS, AND IMPOSTORS, CONCERNING THE POWER OF CHARMS, AND THEIR DRIVING OUT OF DEMONS, OR EVIL SPIRITS, AND THE LIKE. NOT TO KEEP QUAILS FOR THE GAME, NOR TO BE MAD AFTER SUCH THINGS,. NOT TO BE OFFENDED WITH OTHER MENS'S LIBERTY OF SPEECH, AND TO APPLY MYSELF UNTO PHILOSOPHY.HIM ALSO I MUST THANK, THAT EVER I HEARD FIRST BACCHIUS, THEN TANDASIS AND MARCIANUS, AND THAT I DID WRITE DIALOGUES IN MY YOUTH, AND THAT I TOOK LIKING TO THE PHILOSOPHER'S LITTLE COUCH AND SKINS, AND SUCH OTHER THINGS, WHICH BY THE GRECIAN DISCIPLINE ARE PROPER TO THOSE WHO PROFESS PHILOSOPHY.

                                                   👀

                      * WHATSOVER PROCEEDS FROM THE GODS IMMEDIATELY, THAT ANY MAN WILL GRANT TOTALLY DEPENDS FROM THEIR DIVINE PROVIDENCE. AS FOR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE COMMONLY SAID TO HAPPEN BY FORTUNE, EVEN THOSE MUST BE CONCEIVED TO HAVE DEPENDENCE FROM NATURE, OR FROM THAT FIRST AND GENERAL CONNECTION, AND CONCATENATION OF ALL THOSE THINGS, WHICH MORE APPARENTLY BY THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE ARE ADMINISTERED AND BROUGHT TO PASS. ALL THINGS FLOW FROM THENCE, AND WHATSOEVER IT IS THAT IS, IS BOTH NECESSARY, AND CONDUCING TO THE WHOLE (PART OF WHICH THOU ART), AND WHATSOVER IT IS THAT IS REQUISITE AND NECESSARY FOR THE PRESERVATION, OF THE GENERAL, MUST OF NECESSITY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GENERAL, MUST OF NECESSITY FOR EVERY PARTICULAR NATURE, BE GOOD AND BEHOVEFUL. AND AS FOR THE WHOLE, IT IS PRESERVED, AS BY THE PERPETUAL MUTATION AND CONVERSION OF THE SIMPLE ELEMENTS ONE INTO ANOTHER, SO ALSO BY THE MUTATION, AND ALTERATION OF THINGS MIXED AND COMPOUNDED. LET THESE THINGS SUFFICE THEE,  LET THEM, BE ALWAYS UNTO THEE, AS THY GENERAL RULES AND PRECEPTS. THAT THOU DIE NOT MURMURING AND COMPLAINING, BUT TRULY MEEK AND WELL SATISFIED, AND FROM THY HEART THANKFUL UNTO THE GODS.

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

                                                   👀

                       * REMEMBER HOW LONG THOU HAS ALREADY PUT OFF THESE THINGS, AND HOW OFTEN A CERTAIN DAY AND HOURS AS IT WERE, HAVING BEEN SET UNTO THEE BY THE GODS, THOU HAST NEGLECTED IT. IT IS HIGH TIME FOR THESE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE BOTH OF THE WORLD, WHERE OF THOU ART A PART, AND OF THAT LORD AND GOVERNOR OF THE WORLD, FROM WHOM, AS A CHANNEL FROM THE SPRING, THOU THYSELF DIDST FLOW, AND THAT THERE IS BUT A CERTAIN LIMIT OF TIME APPOINTED UNTO THEE, WHICH IF THOU SHALT NOT MAKE USE OF TO CALM AND ALLAY THE MANY DISTEMPERS OF THY SOUL, IT WILL PASS AWAY AND THOU WITH IT, AND NEVER AFTER RETURN. 

                                                    👀

                     * LET IT BE THY EARNEST AND INCESSANT CARE AS A ROMAN AND A MAN TO PERFORM WHATSOVER I IS THAT THOU ART ABOUT, WITH TRUE AND UNFEIGNED GRAVITY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE, AND AS FOR ALL OTHERS CARES, AND IMAGINATIONS, HOW THOU MAYEST EASE THY MIND OF THEM. WHICH THOU SHALT DO, IF THOU SHALT GO ABOUT EVERY ACTION AS THY LAST ACTION, FREE FROM ALL VANITY, ALL PASSIONATE AND WILFUL ABERRATION FROM REASON, AND FROM HYPICRISY, AND SELF-LOVE, AND DISLIKE OF THOSE THINGS, WHICH BY THE FATES OR APPOINTMENT OF GOD HAVE HAPPENED UNTO THEE. THOU SEEST  THAT THOSE THINGS, WHICH FOR A MAN TO HOLD ON IN A PROSPEROUS COURSE, AND TO LIVE AND DIVINE LIFE, ARE REQUISITE AND NECESSARY, ARE NOT MANY, FOR THE GODS WILL REQUIRE NO MORE OF ANY MAN, THAT SHALL BUT KEEP AND OBSERVE THESE THINGS.

                                                   👀

                               * DO, SOUL, DO, ABUSE AND COMTEMN THYSELF, YET A WHILE AND THE TIME FOR THEE TO RESPECT THYSELF, WILL BE AT AN END. EVERY MAN'S HAPPINESS DEPENDS FROM HIMSELF, BUT BEHOLD THY LIFE IS ALMOST AT AN END, WHILES AFFORDING THYSELF NO RESPECT, THOU DOST MAKE THY HAPPINESS TO CONSIST IN THE SOULS, AND CONCEITS OF OTHER MEN.

                                                  👀

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2132216722897449"

     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

         

                    * WHY SHOULD  ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN EXTERNALLY, SO MUCH DISTRACT THEE ? GIVE THYSELF LEISURE TO LEARN SOME GOOD THING, AND CEASE ROVING AND WANDERING TO AND FRO. THOU MUST ALSO TAKE HEED OF ANOTHER KIND OF WANDERING, FOR THEY ARE IDLE IN THEIR ACTIONS, WHO TOIL AND LABOUR IN THIS LIFE, AND HAVE NO CERTAIN SCOPE TO WHICH TO DIRECT ALL THEIR MOTIONS, AND DESIRES.

                                                  👀

                    * FOR NOT OBSERVING THE STATE OF ANOTHER MAN'S SOUL, SCARCE WAS EVER ANY MAN KNOWN TO BE UNHAPPY. TELL WHATSOVER THEY BE THAT INTEND NOT, AND GUIDE NOT BY REASON AND DISCRETION THE MOTIONS OF THEIR OWN SOULS, THEY MUST OF NECESSITY BE UNHAPPY.

                                                                         👀

                    * THESE THINGS THOU MUST ALWAYS HAVE IN MIND. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE, AND WHAT IS MINE - IN PARTICULAR. THIS UNTO THAT WHAT RELATION  IT HATH, WHAT KIND OF PART, OF WHAT KIND OF UNIVERSE IT IS, AND THAT THERE IS NOBODY THAT CAN HINDER THEE, BUT THAT THOU MAYEST ALWAYS BOTH DO AND SPEAK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AGREEABLE TO THAT NATURE, WHEREOF THOU ART A PART.

WHAT IS EMOTION

 

                                   HOW TO LEARN EMOTIONS

                     CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

                ERIC SCHAPS, DEVELOPMENT STUDIES CENTER, IAKLAND, CALIFORNIA PENDENT OBSERVERS, COMPARING WITH CONTROL SCHOOLS.

                  RESULTS :

              * MORE RESPONSIBLE

              * MORE ASSERTIVE

              * MORE POPULAR AND OUTGOING

              * MORE PRO-SOCIAL AND HELPFUL

              * BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS

              * MORE CONSIDERATE, CONCERNED

              * MORE PRO-SOCIAL STRATEGIES FOR INTERPERSONAL 

                PROBLEM-SOLVING

              * MORE HARMONIOUS

              * MORE "DEMOCRATIC"

              * BETTER CONFLICT-RESOLUTION SKILLS

HOW TO HANDLE RELATIONSHIPS

 

                                    

                                UNDERSTAND RELATIONSHIPS

                                                   👀

    

                                       

                       * INCREASED ABILITY TO ANALYZE AND UNDERSTAND                                              RELATIONSHIPS

                      * BETTER AT RESOLVING CONFLICTS AND NEGOTIATING                                         DISAGREEMENTS

                      * BETTER AT SOLVING PROBLEMS IN RELATIONSHIPS

                      * MORE ASSERTIVE AND SKILLED AT COMMUNICATING

                      * MORE POPULAR AND OUTGOING, FRIENDLY AND INVOLVED                                 WITH PEERS

                      * MORE SOUGHT OUT BY PEERS

                      * MORE CONCERNED AND CONSIDERATE

                      * MORE "PRO-SOCIAL" AND CONSIDERATE

                      * MORE SHARING, COOPERATION, AND HELPFULNESS' 

                      * MORE DEMOCRATIC IN DEALING WITH OTHERS

                                                  👇

                     ONE ITEM ON THIS LIST DEMANDS SPECIAL ATTENTION, EMOTIONAL LITERALLY PROGRAMS IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS SCORES AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. IN A TIME WHEN TOO MANY CHILDREN LACK THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THEIR UPSETS, TO LISTEN OR FOCUS, TO REIN IN IMPULSE, TO FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORK OR CARE ABOUT LEARNING, ANYTHING THAT WILL BUTTRESS THESE SKILLS WILL HELP THEIR EDUCATION. IN THIS SENSE, EMOTIONAL LITERACY ENHANCES SCHOOL'S ABILITY TO TEACH EVEN IN A TIME OF BACK-TO-BASICS AND BUGET CUTS, THERE IS AN ARGUMENT  TO BE MADE THAT THESE PROGRAMS HELP REVERSE A TIDE OF EDUCATIONAL DECLINE AND STRENGTHEN  SCHOOL IS ACCOMPLISHING THEIR MAN MISSION, AND SO ARE WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

                           BEYOND THESE EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGE, THE COURSES TO HELP CHILDREN BETTER FULFILL THEIR ROLES IN LIFE, BECOMING BETTER FRIENDS, STUDENTS, SONS AND DAUGHTERS - AND IN THE FUTURE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BETTER HUSBANDS AND WIVES, WORKERS AND BOSSESS, PARENTS, AND CITIZENS, WHILE NOT EVERY BOY AND GIRS WILL ACQUIRE THESE SKILLS WITH EQUAL SURENESS, TO THE DEGREE THEY DO WE ARE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. A RISING TIDE LIFT ALL BOATS. AS TIM SHRIVER PUT IT. IT'S NOT JUST THE KIDS WITH PROBLEMS, BUT KIDS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE SKILLS, THESE ARE AN INOCULATION FOR LIFE.

                                                 ❤

                       A WORD ABOUT WHAT I REFER TO UNDER THE RUBRIC EMOTION, A TERM WHOSE PRECISE MEANING PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS HAVE QUIBBLED OVER FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. IN ITS MOST LITERAL SENSE, THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY DEFINES EMOTION AS "ANY AGITATION OR DISTURBANCE OF MIND, FEELING, PASSION, ANY VEHEMENT OR EXCITED MENTAL STATE. I TAKE EMOTION TO REFER TO A FEELING AND ITS DISTINTIVE THOUGHTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BILOGICAL STATES, AND RANGE OF PROPENSITIES TO ACT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EMOTIONS, ALONG WITH THEIR BLENDS, VARIATIONS, MUTATIONS, AND NUANCES. INDEED, THERE ARE MANY MORE SUBTLETIES OF EMOTION THAT WE HAVE WORDS FOR.

                    RESEARCHERS CONTINUE TO ARGUE OVER PRECISELY WHICH EMOTIONS CAN BE CONSIDERED PRIMARY - THE BLUE, RED, AND YELLOW OF FEELING FROM WHICH ALL BLENDS COME - OR EVEN IF THERE ARE SUCH PRIMARY EMOTIONS AT ALL. SOME THEORISTS PROPOSE BASIC FAMILIES, THOUGH, NOT ALL AGREE ON THEM. THE MAIN CANDIDATES AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES.

                         * ANGER : FURY, OUTRAGE, RESENTMENT, WRATH, EXASPERATION, INDIGATION, VEXATION, ACRIMONY, ANIMOSITY, ANNOYANCE, IRRITABILITY, HOSTILITY, AND , PERHAPS AT THE EXREME, PATHOLOGICAL HATRED AND VIOLENCE

                                                 ❤

                        * SADNESS : GRIEF, SORROW, CHEERLESSNESS, GLOOM, MELANCHLOGY, SELF-PITY, LONELINESS, DEJECTION, DESPAIR, AND , WHEN PATHOLOGICAL, SEVERE DEPRESSION .

                                     ❤

                         * FEAR : ANXIETY, APPREHENSION, NERVOUSNESS, CONCERN, CONSTRERNATION, MISGIVING, WARINESS, QUALM, EDGINESS, DREAD, FRIGHT, TERROR, AS A PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, PHOBIA AND PANIC.

                                   

                                    ❤

         

                         * ENJOYMENT : HAPPINESS, JOY, RELIEF, CONTENTMENT, BLISS, DELIGHT, AMUSEMENT, PRIDE, SENSUAL PLEASURE, THRILL, RAPTURE, GRATIFICATION, SATISFACTION, EUPHORIA, WHIMSY, ECSTASY, AND AT THE FAR EDGE, MANIA.

                                    ❤

                         * LOVE : ACCEPTANCE, FRIENDILNESS, TRUST, KINDNESS, AFFINITY, DEVOTION, ADORATION, INFATUTION, AGAPE

                                   ❤

                  * SURPRISE : SHOCK, ASTONISHMENT, AMAZEMENT, WONDER

                                   ❤

                   * DISGUST : CONTEMPT, DISDAIN, SCORN, ABHORRENCE, AVERSION, DISTASTE, REVULSION.

                                                            ❤

  

                      * SHAME : GUILT, EMBARRASSMENT, CHAGRIN, REMORSE, HUMILIATION, REGRET, MORTIFICATION, AND CONTRITION.

SELF-AWARENESS (MANAGING EMOTIONS)

 

                       

                                   BALM FOR ANGER

                    GIVEN THE ANALYSIS OF THE ANATOMY OF RAGE, ZILLMANN SEES TWO MAIN WAYS OF INTERVENING. ONE WAY OF DEFUSING ANGER IS TO SEIZE ON THE CHALLENGE THE THOUGHTS THAT TRIGGER THE SURGES OF ANGER, SINCE IS THE ORIGINAL APPRAISAL OF AN INTERACTION THAT CONFIRMS AND ENCOURAGES THE FIRST BURST OF ANGER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT REAPPRAISALS THAT FAN THE FLAMES. TIMING MATTERS, THE EARLIER IN THE ANGER CYCLE THE MORE EFFECTIVE . INDEED, ANGER CAN BE COMPLETELY SHORT CIRCUITED IF THE MITIGATING INFORMATION COMES BEFORE THE ANGER IS ACTED ON.

                    THE POWER OF UNDERSTANDING TO DEFLATE ANGER IS CLEAR FROM ANOTHER OF ZILLMANN'S EXPERIMENTS, IN WHICH A RUDE ASSITANT (A CONFEDERATE) INSULTED AND PROVOKED VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE RIDING AN EXERCISE BIKE. WHEN THE VOLUNTEERS WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO RETALIATE AGAINST  THE RUDE EXPERIMENT  (AGAIN, BY GIVING A BAD EVALUATION THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE USED IN WEIGHTING HIS CANDICACY FOR A JOB) THEY DID SO WITH AN ANGRY GLEE. BUT IN ONE VERSION OF THE EXPERIMENT ANOTHER CONFEDERATE ENTERED AFTER THE VOLUNTEERS HAD BEEN PROVOKED, AND JUST BEFORE THE CHANCE TO RETALIATE, SHE TOLD THE PROVOCATIVE EXPERIMENT HE HAD A PHONE CALL DOWN THE HALL. AS HE LEFT HE MADE A SRIDE REMARK TO HER TOO. BUT SHE TOOK IT IN GOOD SPIRITS, EXPLAINING AFTER HE LEFT THAT HE WAS UNDER TERRIBLE PRESSURES, UPSET ABOUT HIS UPCOMING GRADUATE ORALS. AFTER THAT THE IRATE VOLUNTEERS, WHEN OFFERED THE CHANCE TO RETALIATE AGAIST THE RUDE FELLOW, CHOSE NOT TO, INSTEAD THEY EXPRESSED COMPASSION FOR HIS PLIGHT.

                        SUCH MITIGATING INFORMATION ALLOWS A REAPPRAISAL OF THE ANGER-PROVOKING EVENTS. BUT THERE IS A SPECIFIC WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS DE-ESCALATION. ZILMANN FINDS IT WORKS WELL AT MODERATE LEVELS OF ANGER, AT HIGH LEVELS OF RAGE IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CALLS "COGNITIVE INCAPACITATION - IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER THINK STRAIGHT. WHEN PEOPLE WERE ALREADY HIGHLY ENRAGED, THEY DISMISSED THE MITIGATING INFORMATION WITH "THAT'S JUST TOO BAD" OR THE STRONGEST VULGARITIES THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS TO OFFER, AS ZILLMANN PUT IT WITH DELICACY.

                                      COOLING DOWN

                     ONECE WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13, IN AN ANGRY, I WALKED OUT OF THE HOUSE VOWING IN WOULD NEVER RETURN, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY, AND I WALKED FAR ALONG LOVELY LANES, TILL GRADUALLY THE STILLNESS AND BEAUTY CALMED AND SOOTHED ME, AND AFTER SOME HOURS I RETURNED REPENTANT AND ALMOST MELTED. SINCE THEN WHEN I AM ANGRY, I DO THIS IF I CAN, AND FIND IT THE BEST CURE.

                                   EMOTIONAL SELF-AWARENESS 

                   * IMPROVEMENT IN RECOGNIZING AND NAMING OWN EMOTIONS

                * BETTER ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES OF FEELINGS'

                * RECOGNIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEELINGS AND                                   ACTIONS

                                                     MANAGING EMOTIONS

                       * BETER FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE AND ANGER MANAGEMENT

                      * FEWER VERBUL PUT-DOWNS, FIGHTS, AND CLASSROOM                                         DISRUPTIONS

                     * BETTER ABLE TO EXPRESS ANGER APPROPRIATELY, WITHOUT                              FIGHTING

                     * FEWER SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS

                     * LESS AGGRESSIVE OR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

                     * MORE POSITIVE FEELINGS ABOUT SELF, SCHOOL, AND FAMILY

                    * BETTER AT HANDLING STRESS

                    * LESS LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETY

                           HARNESSING EMOTIONS PRODUCTIVELY

                         ❤ MORE RESPONSIBLE 

                       ❤ BETTER ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND PAY                                               ATTENTION

                       ❤ LESS IMPULSIVE, MORE SELF-CONTROL

                       ❤ IMPROVED SCORES ON ACHIEVEMENT TESTS

                          EMPATHY READING EMOTIONS

                       👀 BETTER ABLE TO TAKE ANOTHER PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE

                     👀 IMPROVED EMPATHY AND SENSITIVITY TO OTHERS                                                 FEELINGS

                    👀 BETTER AT LISTENING TO OTHERS

THE CANCER PATIENT

 

                                                MIND AND MEDICINE

                                               WHO TAUGHT YOU ALL THIS DOCTOR?

                                            THE REPLY CAME PROMPTY?

                                             SUFFERING".

                                                                  ---- ALBERT CAMUS, THE PLAGUE

                                                   👀

                          A VAGUE ACHE IN MY GROIN SENT ME TO MY DOCTOR. NOTHING SEEMED UNUSUAL UNTIL H LOOKED AT THE RESULT OF A URINE TEST. I HAD TRACES OF BLOOD IN MY URINE.

                     I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET SOME TESTS... KIDNEY FUNCTION, CYTOLOGY... HE SAID IN A BUSINESSLIKE TONE.

                   I HAVE A FOGGY MEMORY OF HIS EXPLAINING TO WHEN AND WHERE TO GO FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. IT WAS THE SIMPLEST INSTRUCTION, BUT I HAD TO ASK HIM TO REPEAT IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES. CYTOLOGY - MY MIND WOULD NOT LEAVE THE WORD. THAT ONE WORD MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I HAD JUST MUGGED AT MY OWN FRONT DOOR.

                   WE SHOULD I HAVE REACTED SO STRONGLY? MY DOCTOR WAS JUST BEING THOROUGH AND COMPETENT, CHECKING THE LIMBS IN A DIAGNOSTIC DECISION TREE. THERE WAS A TINY LIKEHOOD THAT CANCER WAS THE PROBLEM. BUT THIS RATIONAL ANALYSIS WAS IRRELEVANT AT THAT MOMENT. IN THE LAND OF THE SICK, EMOTIONS REIGN SUPREME, FEAR IS A THOUGHT AWAY. WE CAN BE SO EMOTIONALLY FRAGILE WHILE WE ARE AILING BECAUSE OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING IS BASED IN PART ON THE ILLUSION OF INVULNERABILITY . SICKNESS - ESPECIALLY A SEVERE ILLNESS - BURSTS THAT ILLUSION, ATTACKING THE PREMISE THAT OUR PRIVATE WORLD SAFE AND SECURE. SUDDENLY WE FEEL WEAK, HELPLESS, AND VULNERABLE.

                                                👇

                             DESPITE SUCH EVIDENCE, MANY OR MOST PHYSICIANS ARE STILL SKEPTICAL THAT EMOTIONS MATTER CLINICALLY. ONE REASONS IS THAT WHILE MANY STUDIES HAVE FOUND STRESS AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS TO WEAKEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS IMMUNE CELLS, IT IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR THAT THE RANGE OF THESE CHANGES IS GREAT ENOUGH TO MAKE A MEDICAL DIFFERENCE.

                              EVEN SO, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLACE OF EMOTIONS IN MEDICINE. FOR INSTANCE, DR.CAMRAN NEZHAT, AN EMINENT GYNECOLOGICAL LAPAROSCOPIC SURGEON AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY, SAYS, "IF SOMEONE SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY TELLS ME SHE'S PANICKED THAT DAY AND DOES NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH IT, I CANCEL THE SURGERY". NEZHAT EXPLAINS, EVERY SURGEON KNOWS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXREMELY SCARED TO TERRIBLY IN SURGERY. THEY BLEED TOO MUCH, THEY HAVE MORE INFECTIONS AND COMPLICATIONS. THEY HAVE A HARDER TIME RECOVERING . IT'S MUCH BETTER IF THEY ARE CALM".

                          THE REASON IS STRAIGHTFORWARD: PANIC AND ANXIETY HIKE BLOOD PRESSURE, AND VEINS DISTENDED BY PRESSURE BLEED MORE PROFUSELY WHEN CUT BY THE SURGEON'S KNIFE. EXCESS BLEEDING IS ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLESOME SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS, ONE THAT CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO DEATH.

                    BEYOND SUCH MEDICAL ANECDOTES, EVIDENCE FOR THE CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONS HAS BEEN MOUNTING STEADILY. PERHAPS THE MOST COMPELLING DATA ON THE MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EMOTION COME FROM A MASS ANALYSIS COMBINING RESULTS FROM 101 SMALLER STUDIES INTO A SINGLE LARGER ONE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND MEN AND WOMEN. THE STUDY CONFIRMS THAT PERTURBING EMOTIONS ARE BAD FOR HEALTH - TO A DEGREE. PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED CHRONIC ANXIETY, LONG PERIODS OF SADNESS AND PESSIMISM, UNREMITTING TENSION OR INCESSANT  HOLSTILITY, RELENTLESS CYNICISM OR SUSPICIOUSNESS, WERE FOUND TO HAVE DOUBLE THE RISK OF DISEASE (EACH REPRESENTATIVE OF MAJOR, BROAD CATAGORIES OF DISEASE). THIS ORDER OF MAGNITUDE MAKES DISTRESSING EMOTIONS AS TOXIC A RISK FACTOR AS, SAY, SMOKING OR HIGH CHOLESTEROL ARE FOR HEART DISEASE - IN OTHER WORDS, A MAJOR THREAT TO HEALTH.

                           TO BE SURE, THIS IS A BROAD STATISTICAL LINK, AND BY NO MEANS INDICATES THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS SUCH CHRONIC FEELINGS WILL THUS MORE EASILY FALL PREY TO A DISEASE. BUT THE EVIDENCE FOR A POTENT ROLE FOR EMOTION IN DISEASE IS FAR MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THIS ONE STUDY OF STUDIES INDICATES. TAKING A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THE DATA FOR SPECIFIC EMOTIONS, ESPECIALLY THE BIG THREE-ANGER, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION - MAKES CLEARER SOME SPECIFIC WAYS THAT FEELINGS HAVE MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE, EVEN IF THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH SUCH EMOTIONS HAVE THEIR EFFECT ARE YET TO BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD?