There is no way to control Emotions, Emotions are the way to control situations
No aspect of our lives be it social or political is more important to the quality and meaning of our existence than emotions. Emotions are what make life as a human being till the end. Emotions shape how we see things, push us to act and affect our overall happiness in our relationship.
This is why emotions have always been a focus of intense interest in philosophy and science. Although both philosophy and science explore emotions in different ways, one thing about emotions is common and that is that emotions significantly influence situations by shaping our perceptions, reactions, and behaviours, ultimately influencing decision-making and guiding how we respond to interactions and challenges.
Furthermore, there is no way to control emotions, but emotion provides an individual with the ability to manage and regulate their responses which is crucial to effective. Instead of suggesting that emotions solely dictate control, it’s more accurate to say that understanding and managing emotions is crucial for navigating situations effectively and making informed decisions. Emotions can guide our choices, motivate us, and even help us adapt to different circumstances, but they are not the sole determinant of how we respond to any given situation. Therefore, explaining emotions through different bases becomes important to understand the philosophy along with science and relative perspective among emotions in different situations.
There is no such single term or specific equivalent definition to the term emotion in Indian philosophy. In Indian philosophy and western philosophy, emotions are related to mental phenomenon of vijnama and jnana, which terminated as “cognition”. In Indian philosophy emotion consider three mental states as being involved with the arousal of emotions; cognitive (epistemic), conative (desire) and affective. Terms used in Sanskrit text for emotion include vedana (feeling) and bhava (expressions) as well as names of individual emotions such as raga (love, attraction), duesa (hate, aversion), harsha (joy), bhaya (fear) and shoka (sorrow). From a religious point of view, devotion (bhakti) is also an expression of emotion and is based on developing a feeling of love towards a supreme being.
The relationship between emotion and cognition is crucial to any idea of reason and rationality. Emotions are crucial to rational deliberation and decision making. At the heart of these ideas lies the decision making of our mental life in cognition and emotions in the sense that cognition is the
representative thought of emotions. This is why emotions are often considered rational because they are able to represent the external world and give us access to the external world and are therefore based on the best available evidence. For instance; when a mother cares for her children, she has an emotion that represents her children. The object of her emotion is her children and her emotions select them from actions among the various objects and subjects in the world.
In affective science, emotion is studied as a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing subjective feelings, physiological responses, and behavioural expressions, all influenced by various internal and external factors. It’s not just about feeling something, but also about how that feeling manifests in the body and how it drives behaviour. Affective science defines emotion as a complex pattern of reactions involving experiential, behavioural, and physiological elements as the subjective feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and surprise. Additionally, emotions can influence behaviour and decision-making.
Emotions provide valuable information about our internal state and the external world, helping us make decisions that align with our values and goals. For example, fear might prompt us to avoid danger, while joy might encourage us to pursue a pleasurable activity. Instead, emotions play a crucial role in social interactions, helping us connect with others, understand their perspectives, and build relationships. Empathy, for example, is a key emotion that enables us to understand and relate to others. On the other hand as the source of motivation, emotion driving us to take action and achieve our goals. Whether it’s the excitement of pursuing a dream or the frustration of facing a challenge, emotions can fuel our efforts.
“Reason leads to conclusions, but emotions lead to action” highlights the different roles of reason and emotion in decision-making and action. While emotions can influence our reasons and choices, they are not the same thing. Reason helps us analyze information, draw logical conclusions, and understand the facts, while emotions drive us to take action based on our feelings and motivations. Emotions provide the impetus for action, while reason provides the framework for understanding and planning. For instance, a business leader might analyze market trends (reason) to understand consumer behavior and then use different appeals (emotions) in their advertising to drive sales.
Developing the ability to manage our emotions in a healthy way is crucial for personal well-being and social success. Learning to express our emotions in a healthy and constructive way is essential for building strong relationships and resolving conflicts. This involves communicating our feelings clearly and respectfully, while also being mindful of the impact our emotions have on others. Developing emotional intelligence an important tool which involves understanding and managing your own emotions and those of others, is a valuable asset for navigating various situations. While emotional intelligence is a valuable skill for navigating and managing situations, it’s not the only factor. A combination of emotional awareness with cognitive abilities, situational awareness, resource management, and effective action are all necessary for controlling a situation effectively.
Overall, when we analyse the real life experiences of emotions, we see that emotions play various intellectual, personal and spiritual roles in controlling situations. Emotions in their various ways and in their different forms contribute to the survival of not only our family life but also social and political life. While emotions are not the sole determinant of our ability to control situations, they are an integral part of the process. By understanding our emotions, learning to manage them effectively, and expressing them constructively, we can navigate life’s challenges with greater awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
Consequently, the ability to articulate your own feelings makes it possible to understand others better, which can provide a way to take control of every situation and lead to tremendous success in life.