I would offer -- I'm considering emotions useful gauge, but also often they stir too much up, if allowed to run on their own dynamo... typically, must be transmuted, cooled, elevated...
I call it emotion when it is not just a strong mental association, but also includes the stimulation of the internal glands, sympathetic system, etc. Our biochemistry, neural pathways are literally changed by emotions. Our skin flushes, our heart rate and respiration changes, tears may well, we may have ticks, muscles tense... Now these are not entirely negative in the flow, as we often need the contrast to recognize patterns and face ourselves... seems the danger is in magnetizing or becoming addicted to the effect of the emotion... or the by-produt of the emotion. When we set patterns or grooves in place based on our addiction to the emotional apparatus' by-products -- we may loose balance.
But a good sweep of emotions, or a gentle tide that wells up is often a sign we treasure, as it can be a part of the more visible spectrum of life -- and again, emotions may prove useful -- I agree.
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Emotion versus Feeling vesus Intuition. Memory versus Emotion.
It seems to me that we are constantly placed in situations where any emotions that we may have are stimulated. Perhaps to look at ourselves and our reactions? Can you imagine George Washington being completely unemotional about fighting the British? Is it possible that the emotions, in regards to freedom, helped him create a democracy for us? Just pondering here. How do we discriminate between good and bad emotions? Often leaves me wondering. Good emotions should leave us at peace with ourselves and others. However it is obvious that George Washington could not be peaceful with the British. They would have suppressed the movement. Good emotions in this case? Or is that why the United States has so many violent wars; we started off as a violent nation.
Steve Hydonus