Introduction
I think that there’s some really great philosophy out there that’s just really too hard for a person to understand without having some background in other less complicated philosophies. So often when some eastern philosophies elude to pain and suffering, the average person hearing that you know for the first few times, doesn’t really understand what they’re talking about is basic psychology, reason, and logic. All the great philosophies really are nothing more than a logical approach to understanding our psychological difficulties.
1. Understanding Anxiety and Emotional States
What we struggle with the most is anxiety. Anxiety is caused by uncomfortable feelings, a sense of danger, boredom, hunger, loneliness, anger, grief, anticipation, all these emotions that are a normal part of the functioning human mind. We feel bored, for example, as a mechanism so that we don’t lay in bed all day and get nothing accomplished.
When we feel sadness, it is a result of grief and loss. Does this mean we’re supposed to avoid anything that causes the feeling of loss? We just have to have a process that we go through when we are experiencing grief and loss so that we don’t get stuck. Being stuck in negative emotions will cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and block us from being open to the highest, but logical philosophy. These logical philosophies enable us to live a pure and simple good life. They keep us on track so that we don’t create any unnecessary drama or hardship.
2. Compassion as a Key Emotional State
Think about compassion. What is it? Do I have it? If I do have it, how do I get more of it? How do I understand it? If I don’t know what it is or how to define it, how do I get it? The philosophy that I’m offering is that a person should ask these questions about compassion so that they can learn it because it is a difficult subject. Compassion is one of the more important emotional states to understand because I believe it leads to the most liberation of the mind from the types of suffering that we encounter. This concept can be found in the teachings of ancient eastern philosophers as well as indigenous cultures around the world.
3. Expanding Compassion and Overcoming Reactive Nature
In Western culture, compassion is less commonly emphasized, as we tend to lean more towards a survival of the fittest mentality. However, compassion should extend beyond our loved ones and be cultivated for ourselves as well. Building off our compassion for ourselves, we can develop compassion for others and expand our field of compassion. It is important to recognize and work through reactive behaviors that may stem from anxiety and a dysfunctional upbringing.
Conclusion
Philosophy, psychology, and compassion are intertwined in understanding and navigating the complexities of human emotions and experiences. By exploring the connection between philosophy and psychology, we can gain insights into our own emotional states, such as anxiety, and work towards developing compassion as a liberating force. Through self-reflection and understanding, we can transcend reactive behaviors and cultivate a compassionate mindset towards ourselves and others, leading to personal growth and a more harmonious existence.