Absolutely, John. I try to feed the positive ones. I figure there is enough anger, resentment, and vendettas in the world as it is. There is a quote I like regarding this:
"Every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back."
Today is a good one because I can actually see out of my left eye again, Yay!
Mama bird's smaller than emotional-bird's beak. If she feeds that 'baby' she's likely to get swallowed whole. There will be a whole lot of emotion left without anyone to nurture and guide it. Now that could get way out of hand.
Emotion, positive or negative, is energy and it can grow like the beak or it can grow a festering inside that does not show but alienates. Good positive energy allows growth to be healthful and complimentary while negative emotions (verbal abuse, hatred, envy, anger, etc.) grow too but they attack the entity tearing it down and sometimes infesting others who are too near and suffer from exposure - Hitler, for example. You just need to be sure if you are feeding someone's emotional stomach that the food you offer is good for them.
A friend once commented on some hard feelings I had about a committee. He said, "Stop feeding the monkeys". It was to stop my methods of dealing with the committee and to stop my feelings. It works.
"Mama bird's smaller than emotional-bird's beak. If she feeds that 'baby' she's likely to get swallowed whole. There will be a whole lot of emotion left without anyone to nurture and guide it. Now that could get way out of hand."
Fascinating, Tanya. There's a side to this I admit I had not considered.
Sorry, Shirley, I didn't think that either. Thatnks for catching me on this.
I meant that while there is a message in this Byte about our own emotions feeding on themselves, there's another aspect about feeding the emotions of others — and an even trickier aspect of what constitutes "feeding."
I guess I was using the "royal you" or the caffeine hadn't kicked in yet
John, this is such a good one. I was just talking with my husband on a long drive the other day about expectations and one's definition of success and whether, at our ages, we felt that we were "successful". I love the layers you've made us consider here; every day, we choose to be happy or unhappy in dealing with ourselves and our own emotions, but we choose in our lives to nurture those around us or to "force feed" them, too. Enhancing the lives of others through our own well-being is part of it, but any parent knows it's all about give and take, and that that principal can be applied to the world at large.
Sounds like you've got this area in pretty good shape, Sandre.
There is also a subtle aspect here. Criticizing a child for behaving a certain way is also reinforcing that behavior - "feeding" if you will. This is the most elusive aspect of this Byte though one of the most important.
Haim is right, that 'chick' looks as if it's about to eat its provider. This reminds me of a poem by William Blake called 'The Poison Tree'. Your own hate, if nourished, will destroy you.
I read an article recently, that suggested that the brain craves what it always has, that it becomes hardwired to a certain profile and, when it is denied what it is used to, it makes the effort to get it back. A physical analogy to a philosophical byte, perhaps...
Pat is right. That also explains why it is so difficult to change people's minds by disagreeing with them. They are defending their view of the world which is more precious to them than almost anything else. It is only when the world really comes down on them that they become even a little open to changing their way of thinking even a little.
Of course that makes it really hard on us innovators and "outside the box" thinkers. But we realize that going in. Nobody ever told me it would be easy to help others.
A robin built a nest on one of our window sills. We were able to watch Ma Robin hatch, feed and raise three robins close up. She fed 'em and their emotions grew on a daily basis.
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Additionally, all my humor articles are now posted to John's Humor.
i totally agree
It's an important concept.
Something different.
"Every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back."
Today is a good one because I can actually see out of my left eye again, Yay!
10 4 u
A werewolf howling in the dark
Tearing at my soul
Asking me which dog I'll feed
And which will I let go
The scratching comes from deep within
Hyde ripping my heart in two
Is it the midday sun I seek
Or the moon wrapped up in blue
All Hallow's Eve fast approaches
Like hoofbeats on castenet
Rainbow Demon rises up his scythe
But hasn't claimed me yet
As long as blood pumps through my veins
My dismay is not complete
As long as I have emotions of life
I may still serve a Godly feat
But war rages on, deep inside
Covered in lies so thin
Easier it is to walk with Satan
But it's triumph to walk with “Him"
That is for sure, Judi.
PK, Carol. I'm a little confused and I don't think it's the faact I haven't had coffee yet.
Great quote, Syvia.
Glad your eye is mending well.
Bonnie, what a fun way to say it.
You've nailed about a third of the meanings behind this Byte.
Sorry to say this, folks, but it's not all about you.
And, that's another part, Jan.
Thanks.
Fascinating, Tanya. There's a side to this I admit I had not considered.
Very intriguing. Thanks.
Another way to look at this, Patricia.
Thanks.
Read it again tomorrow for the rest.
Very true, Shirley and there's more because this Byte is not all about you :)
Thanks.
Well said, Donna.
You touch on another aspect of this Byte — akin to a previous one about "Hungry parents can't feed."
That it does, LaRue.
Larry, that's a great idea. Thanks.
Bert, what a great example.
I meant that while there is a message in this Byte about our own emotions feeding on themselves, there's another aspect about feeding the emotions of others — and an even trickier aspect of what constitutes "feeding."
I guess I was using the "royal you" or the caffeine hadn't kicked in yet
... or both.
Have a wonderful day.
Perfect as usual John. I would add that this is equally true for aspects of ones personality.
There is also a subtle aspect here. Criticizing a child for behaving a certain way is also reinforcing that behavior - "feeding" if you will. This is the most elusive aspect of this Byte though one of the most important.
Right you are. It's true for anything that can adapt to reinforcement.
This reminds me of a poem by William Blake called 'The Poison Tree'.
Your own hate, if nourished, will destroy you.
And there are the other aspects of this that have nothing to do with your emotions ....
A physical analogy to a philosophical byte, perhaps...
Thanks for your comment.
Of course that makes it really hard on us innovators and "outside the box" thinkers. But we realize that going in. Nobody ever told me it would be easy to help others.
Rest easy