Emotions.
Thoughts are the shadows of emotions.
"You don't just start laughing — you must have thought of something. Likewise, you don't just start feeling sad — you must have thought of something." - me.
Emotions are the object, thoughts are the shadows; emotions are the root cause, thoughts are the shadows; emotions are the root cause of thoughts that control people's behaviors.
Most people think of emotions (in my opinion) as happiness, sadness and anger.
I think they go way deeper.
The Ancient Greeks and Stoics mostly call "positive emotions" virtues and call "negative emotions" emotions, but I think they are all just emotions.
The voices (shadows) of hopelessness (emotion) sounds something like these:
- "There's nothing left to do."
- "I must be cursed."
The voices (shadows) of gratitude (emotion) sounds like these:
- "I'm grateful for the opportunity to be alive today."
- "I'm grateful that both my parents are alive."
The voices (shadows) of rejoice (emotion) sounds like these:
- "I've so happy because I know tough times don't last."
- "I'm so happy because in tough times, character is built."
These are (positive) emotions: Love, Patience, Tolerance; even Truth I would add!
These are also emotions: Hate, Regret, Greed, Irritation, Disdain, Contempt.
We have the power to continually change our thoughts, that can then change our emotions, that can then change our behaviors.
In the end, I think we should all surround ourselves with virtues as the Ancient Greeks and Stoics would call them.
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