My fear is my own concern.
(T E Lawrence)
Primal
energy
Emotion is part of our instinctive 'fight-or-flight'
response to danger or uncertainty.
In
tai chi, emotion is seen as an
energy
that exists within the body.
It is a
primal energy.
When we react to stimulus, emotion becomes manifest and we usually label it:
anger, fear or upset.
Fear
is an essential survival tool but the others are typically linked to
thought.
When emotion is created by thinking it is because events
are not proceeding according to our requirement.
We can use intellect to counter-balance this upset by applying
humour.
Humour is a way of looking at the world a little
differently; seeing things from another perspective and forgetting to be
quite so serious.
Thought-control
When emotion is caused by thought, it is an unconscious habit developed from
childhood.
Children become upset and cry when cold or hungry.
The only way to communicate this is through emotion; they require attention.
Animals seem to do the same thing.
Adults are not children and should not become upset in the same way as
children, but they
do.
When a situation fails to meet the expectation of
most adults, the adult becomes emotionally disturbed and seeks to express
themselves.
Beyond
thought
Emotion is a powerful force and should not be expended carelessly.
We must be careful not to become upset.
Some people are plagued by insecurities and these cloud their minds -
they feel to be in danger.
They respond to everyday situations with aggression and hostility, creating
a predicament that only serves to reinforce their fears.
Instinct must settle if emotion is to subside.
In tai chi this is accomplished by balancing the
intellect through
reading and calming the mind through the
exercise itself.
By breathing and moving from the physical
centre we stimulate the abdomen and become more relaxed.
Emotional power
We can use the raw power of emotion by channelling it into an activity
rather than becoming upset.
This process is part of
shen and is created by investing yourself
totally in what you are doing.
Any activity can be fuelled by constructive emotional force.
Intellect, instinct and emotion working in harmony can result in adaptive
self defence, creative
sex, improved relationships with people, greater productivity at
work and
compassion for all life.
Page created 7 January 2005