Someone shared a cool analogy with me today. They said our brains are like chocolate-covered peanuts, the peanut being our brain (I think she was hinting at something) and the chocolate being our emotions.
That emotional coating causes quite a bit of duality within us. This is very obvious in matters of love, but also in the general day-to-day scheme of things.
Procrastination is a matter of what I want to do versus what I need to do. Fear holds us back from doing many of the things we fully know will move us forward. Everyone knows it’s good to stay fit, but not everyone hits the gym. Emotions are a very important thing we need to explore ourselves, especially if our logic is ever to have a chance of getting a word in.
This isn’t a trait exclusive to humans; animals can also defy instincts when dealing with emotional issues. My friend’s dog stopped eating for days after the passing of her mother. Emotions are a powerful fuel for making things happen, but they can also stop things in their tracks.
We all let our emotions get the best of us; some say that’s what makes us human. Clearly we aren’t all equipped with the same emotional barometer as we all respond to things differently.
Emotions are the ups, downs, twists, and turns on the roller coaster of life. Without them, we’d be robots, and things wouldn’t be as exciting. As with everything, be conscious of your emotions, as they can override your daily functions often enough to mess shit up. Work with them; repressing emotions doesn’t always help—it may only defer the issues for a later (and probably less convenient) time.
Sometimes the best way to deal with issues of our heart is to take the advice we would give others.
Sometimes it’s as simple as holding our breath for ten seconds, taking a long walk, popping bubble wrap, or punching a hole in the wall. Some choices will have more expensive consequences than others, and with that, a life lesson (as with every not-so-responsible choice).
Waiting twenty-four hours to act gives your peanut a chance to get a say, which may be your saving grace.
However you deal with the duality of your heart and mind, just remember it’s an ongoing process. I feel it’s getting a bit easier as I get older, or maybe that’s just time gifting me a thicker skin from the bullshit of my past. It’s all essential.