A tree has many layers

Emotion
n. :: in its most general definition, emotion is an intense mental state that arises autonomically in the nervous system rather than through conscious effort, and evokes either a positive or negative psychological response.

My two cents, if desired: Your first reaction to any situation will almost always be based entirely upon an emotional response. This is an internal chemical reaction that you can’t change. What you can change is your interpretation of that chemical reaction and your physical response to it. Emotional reactions to the changes in life and to the situations life presents have the ability to change nearly every aspect of who we are. Emotions can cause you to become awkward and unsure of yourself or bitter and arrogant.

One thing I try to do is consider my reaction as if it is an email. I can compose the email. Edit, delete, cut and paste, reword for gentleness and then sit back and review for logical correctness. If my emotions write an email that is completely ridiculous (which is often the case), I can just hit the delete button, and start over. If I sit down and actually write everything I am feeling, I often will have enough time to realize that it’s not what I am feeling at all! It’s just the chemicals talking. It’s a simple (yet sometimes hard to accomplish) process of thought before action.

Have you ever wished to become more spiritual and meditative? This would imply a desire to become more complacent and more accepting of conditions surrounding you. Emotions act in complete violation of complacency in nearly every case. In Trekkie terms, Vulcans are very spiritual and meditative. In order to achieve this supreme satisfaction and assuredness, it was necessary for the souls of Vulcan to shed the soft flesh of emotion and don a suit of logic and self-control. Mind you, this was an extreme adaptation of this idea.

Some people remain random, irrational and emotionally reactive and claim that it is in their nature to be. They romanticize these behaviors by using descriptive words such as spontaneous, dreamy and idealistic. How do you intend to achieve financial stability and spiritual solidity with personal characteristics that are so detrimental to your overall objective?

You may say that I am “stable, logical, static, outgoing and realistic”. I say that perhaps everyone can be, but the ability must be developed. Internally, I am changeable, movable, introverted and idealistic. But these attributes do nothing for me in the real world. They complicate things and cause bitterness and rash behavior. They cause me to abandon my responsibilities and chase fireflies in a field of dandelions. They are, however, the basis of inspiration and aspiration. Without our emotions as the fundamental building blocks of our lives, we are nothing but lizards. The only thing cool about that is the whole changing colors thing.

(this post was edited after it was originally posted)

Life in a Box

At the end of your life you will see that you are built on an accumulation of experiences. Think of this, if you live your entire life in a box with a window that points to the west, and there is a desert to the west, is not that desert and the box all you will know? This box is great! It has become your comfort zone and you love being there. It’s just you, your box, and the desert.

However, only upon exiting your box can you see the rolling waves of the ocean to the east, the tall green forest to the south or the magnificent snow-capped mountains awaiting a daring climber! The more varied and diverse your experiences and relationships, the more exuberant and exciting you will have the opportunity to be. Everyone has features and assets that are hidden within that may never be known, unless unlocked. It’s not that haven’t always been capable of being who you will be when you end your time on this world. You are. Be open to change and experience. They will inspire you and create new life within you.

My mother unlocked my kindness and sincerity.
My father unlocked my sense of responsibility and faith in change.
Trynia unlocked my faith in myself.
Bert unlocked my acceptance of being different.
Chris unlocked my wild side.
Randy and Jerry unlocked ideas of structure and consistency.
Colin unlocked the possibility of an irreplaceable friend.

You hold many keys to many people.
Maybe you didn’t know that you held one to me.
Maybe you didn’t know you’ve already used it.