Emotions or Nuclear Arms?

Curious comparison huh?! Nevertheless, I cannot think of anything else that has been under such strong attempts to control and regulate. Psychiatry, psychology, neuro-psychiatry and neuro-biology are all intent upon investigating the brain to get to the essence of emotions, their role in the life of a person and how best to gain control over it. Then, you have the Buddhist philosophers, Yoga Psychologists, aroma therapists and acupressure experts, herbalists and shamans and a host of other specialists attempting to help people gain mastery over their emotional selves. Even a slight dip into religion and philosophy reveals a tremendous interest in emotions, their utility and meaningfulness in human life, along with intense efforts to gain collective power over individual emotions.


There are a zillion conflicting opinions and methods on how best to regulate your emotions, however the basic precept remains the same. Mastering your emotions is the best way in which to gain mastery over yourself so that there are no unpleasant experiences, failures or mistakes in life. The assumption is that once you gain control, especially over supposedly negative emotions, your life will flow seamlessly from one day to another, from one experience to the next without any heartbreaks or setbacks. Nowhere is this mentioned, but what else can one assume when faced with the almost feverish attempts made by people to understand emotions and figure out better and more precise ways in which to control them?

When, how and why did human emotions take on the dangerous hues of nuclear arms? Why can’t we let it manifest itself in its true form and let ourselves experience it without massive interference? I agree that unbridled expression of every single emotion we feel would lead to tremendous chaos and destruction. In their own way, they are as powerful as nuclear bombs. Heck! Without the power of emotions, nuclear weapons would not be a reality in the first place. Fear and the instinct for survival and supremacy are powerful emotions, so no wonder we have such enormously destructive weapons around us today.

But, if we did not fear fear and other unpleasant emotional experiences like loss, grief, sorrow, anger and saw them for what they are; natural safeguards to maintain mental stability, would we need to resort to extreme measures of external control?

Do we really need to work so hard at regulating our emotions and mastering our minds everyday? What is wrong with experiencing life through genuine emotions, pleasant or unpleasant? Much as we would like to deny the reality of unpleasant emotions and negative experiences, they are here to stay. Otherwise, life would be too bland to live. If I am sad, should I distract myself or medicate/meditate it out of existence, or should I figure out why I am sad and work on changing the circumstances that make me sad? I do not mean to devalue distraction techniques or the benefits of medication and meditation. Both have their own places in a person’s life. However, as in everything else, discernment is required to identify if the source of your problem is disagreeable emotions or if unpleasant circumstances are at the root of your distressful emotions and then act accordingly.