What the World Needs Now

What the world needs now is an emotional yoga program. What would it look like?

We have physical exercise programs as well as education programs, to develop our thinking capacity, and yet our emotions are neglected. Why?

How to learn about the incredibly rich variety of every possible emotion? We could practice happy, from mild to great, as well as the many variables of sad, depressed, frightened, angry, etc.

If children learned, from an early age, that they can be in control of their emotions, and choose what level of quality and strength is appropriate in any given situations and/or relationship, at any particular time, then there might not be so many extremes of emotions expressed. Our emotions could be controlled by an inner dimmer swithch from less to more, and this ability might reduce violent physical expressions of uncontrolled emotions. Violent actions do not likely stem from controlled emotions.

Someone suggested that practicing yoga would be the answer to controlling emotions. I agree, except that before we learn to control them, for its own sake, we should first explore them, understand them and the useful purpose that each might serve, if it is used wisely, and in keeping with the situation. Cooks use many ingredients, and yet, they measure the quantity and quality of each ingredient they use, more and/or less. The human mind can be trained to play that game, with emotions, thoughts, and actions.

How to learn about and practice all the in-between possibilities between happy and not happy, or angry and not angry? We could place them on a scale ranging from one to nine. Which to choose? Which is our dominant number? And why?

How can we possibly expect anyone to learn to come to terms with (understand) outside influences if she or he has not yet learned to understand and express in as socially acceptable ways as possible, inside influences. And, we must learn that emotions don’t come from outside influences, though outside influences may trigger an established pattern of emotional response. We develop habits by repeating how we responded in the past, or we choose to develop a new habit of thinking before responding emotionally to whatever situation.

Perhaps, some day, social scientists will discover the source of the production of emotions within the human body. There are enzymes that are produced in various places within us, that serve us well or not so well, depending upon our awareness of what triggers them and then, intention to control, at least to some extent, whether they produce mild, medium, or extreme amounts of whatever. Can this be done with emotions? Only the future will tell.