How to Stop Your Emotions from Controlling You
Writer Mary Wollstonecraft said, “When we feel deeply, we reason profoundly.” These are wise words for those of us trying to understand the intelligence of our emotions. This blog post provides tips and suggestions on how to stop your emotions from controlling you.
Science has now shown that certain parts of our brain specialize in processing emotional information; these parts are somewhat distinct from those responsible for intellect. Further, the different regions may not always work in concert; we may experience feelings and not understand why. Modern neuroscience has validated classical analytic theories about the power of unconscious feelings to drive our actions, 
sometimes without ever surfacing into our awareness.
Pascal famously said that “the heart has a reason that reason cannot know,” anticipating both Freud and those modern neuroscientists who have demonstrated the existence of unconscious feelings. But Pascal underestimated the power of the human intellect to comprehend mysterious and elusive things, feelings included. Now that thousands of scientists are focusing their intellect on the mysteries of emotion, reason is finally starting to comprehend the reasons of the heart.
Human beings have highly developed reasoning centers housed in the neocortex (the most recently evolved part of the brain), which offer the ability to experience complex emotions, such as: love, vengeance and anger. But the capacity to experience these complex emotions profoundly act on them rationally and in a measured way is a skill worth developing – one that requires patience, practice, contemplation and reflection.
Nine strategies for helping to stop your emotions from controlling you:
1) Become a good judge of your own mood: Just as you weigh yourself when you begin a diet, then track your weight as you progress, so you should learn to track your mood.
2) Exercise in moderation
3) Take control of those aspects of your life that you can: Just knowing that you have some ability to improve your life can help pacify intense emotions. Even if you choose to stay in difficult situations, such as a bad marriage or job, you have taken some steps to regain control.
4) Tackle stress by practicing relaxation, meditation and yoga
5) Seek out social support systems
6) Selectively consider appropriate herbs, nutrients and supplements
7) Attend to your sleep and stay rested
8) Alter your environmental light, especially when days are short and dark, which can be conducive to depression.
9) Avoid alcohol and beware of drugs, substances that can give you the illusion of control in the short run, but aggravate the situation down the line.
Finally, enjoy and appreciate your feelings. It is by recognizing and thinking deeply about our emotions that we are able to reach the most important decisions of our lives.
Wishing you Light and Transcendence,
Norman
Additional Articles/resources You Might Enjoy:
Seven Tell-Tale Signs of Depression in a Friend or Loved One
Emotional Intelligence: 10 Ways to Enhance Yours
I am a psychiatrist, researcher and author, who loves discovering new ways to help people feel better and stay well.
October 04, 2012 at 9:24 am, C.Rajeev said:
It is widely accepted that the correct periods for doing TM or any type of spiritual activity is during “Dawn” and “Dusk” in a day.
“Dawn” is the period between (5:30AM and 7:30AM) and “Dusk” is the period between (5:30PM and 7:30PM) .
This is the period in which the Sun rises and sets and during this interval, the mind of a human being is taken to a meditative mode in a spontaneous manner,without much efforts.
This is probably the Law of Nature.
These two timings are applicable to any geographical location, irrespective of the country.
I hope every TM practitioner will agree with me, based on their own personal experiences.
Further, this is also the time in which students learn their lessons, and musicians practice their musical instruments.
Logically, in other periods of the day, everyone is busy with their duties and they cannot sit for meditation or prayer.
October 29, 2012 at 9:58 pm, C.Rajeev said:
Good meditators feel that even after the end of one TM session, they want to stay calm, for some more time, without any external distractions.
The mind which was calm during the practice of TM, prefers to stay calm even after the practice.
This shows that the TM session is successful.
Fine melodious music, and a perfect fragrance ( aroma) in the place of meditation will certainly give a positive influence on the meditator.
Rattling music, and a bad odor in the surroundings ( and in the body) will not be conducive to meditation.
The meditator can take a bath before the practice of TM, in order to make the practice more effective.
I hope I am right.
November 06, 2012 at 12:16 pm, Dr. Rae said:
Thank you Dr. Norman for sharing your position on this important life-issue.
Not acting from emotions works for me, and those I work with since by their very nature emotions are irrational!