For 100 years, our culture has turned its nose up at feelings.
As David Brooks (who used to be a political reporter for the NY Times) said, “One thing you’re not allowed to talk about in Washington is emotions.”
But he changed to biology because he “was tired of policies that don’t work because they have an inaccurate view of human nature.”
He interviewed Antonio Damasio, foremost neuroscientist specializing in emotions and consciousness.
Interestingly, Damasio said that until 1995 the largest neurological society in the world would not do any presentations on emotions! He broke the ice.
In my field, it’s the same thing – look at “cognitive behavioral therapy” as an example. Where are the feelings?
Once upon a time, insurance companies were reimbursing mental health. But no more! It’s got to be behavioral health.
Well, I understand this.
Emotions are scary.
And we don’t seem to have a grasp of how to handle them.
Yet, yet….stay ignorant at your own risk!
If you don’t know why you tick and how you tick and what you can do about ticking differently, you’re bound to live an incomplete life, a meaningless life – or worse, a miserable one.
Ah! There’s an emotion, isn’t it?
See, we can’t escape. We may as well understand.
Join me on Zoom tonight at 9 PM Eastern time. (I’m 99% sure that zoom will work this time. But isn’t that 1% uncertainty just a bit of fun and excitement? – see, another emotion!)