Is anger only pre-reflexive, or is there a rationality to it? Heat of the Moment When upset, the space behind our ears burns. We lose sight, both physically and mentally. Physically, nothing in particular is in viewing focus as we passively ignore the picture our eyes give us. Perhaps later if we try to recall what we saw, only landscapes are visible. We are not thinking about how others are reacting to us as if we are temporarily insane. We are not considering how the world works and taking an active choice to be rational. Mentally, we have trouble thinking straight, mostly because we are not even trying. Emotions take the lead. Reactions are impulsive, which is faster than logic or even intuition. The boiling point doesn’t care how we are perceived by others, doesn’t care about the mess that the rational self will likely try to reconcile later when the steam blows off, doesn’t care to wait and listen for a self conscious conscience to reign in the fire blowing the top of the volcano. We have had enough. In this moment, we even feel vindicated for having stewed so long, kept this patient, waited for the last straw that broke the donkey’s back. We are livid. The emotions feel rational. If provoked by an innocent bystander, we might list off a myriad of arguments to try to justify our outrage. The quantity of the arguments alone should indicate our hypersensitivity in feeling the need to justify ourself. But regardless of whether those arguments are heard by the universe, we feel justified in our response because in emotional logic we are the main character in the plot. And main character energy can always make a hero of the protagonist.
Emotional Logic
Emotional Logic
Emotional Logic
Is anger only pre-reflexive, or is there a rationality to it? Heat of the Moment When upset, the space behind our ears burns. We lose sight, both physically and mentally. Physically, nothing in particular is in viewing focus as we passively ignore the picture our eyes give us. Perhaps later if we try to recall what we saw, only landscapes are visible. We are not thinking about how others are reacting to us as if we are temporarily insane. We are not considering how the world works and taking an active choice to be rational. Mentally, we have trouble thinking straight, mostly because we are not even trying. Emotions take the lead. Reactions are impulsive, which is faster than logic or even intuition. The boiling point doesn’t care how we are perceived by others, doesn’t care about the mess that the rational self will likely try to reconcile later when the steam blows off, doesn’t care to wait and listen for a self conscious conscience to reign in the fire blowing the top of the volcano. We have had enough. In this moment, we even feel vindicated for having stewed so long, kept this patient, waited for the last straw that broke the donkey’s back. We are livid. The emotions feel rational. If provoked by an innocent bystander, we might list off a myriad of arguments to try to justify our outrage. The quantity of the arguments alone should indicate our hypersensitivity in feeling the need to justify ourself. But regardless of whether those arguments are heard by the universe, we feel justified in our response because in emotional logic we are the main character in the plot. And main character energy can always make a hero of the protagonist.