How To Deal With The Paradox Of Not Labeling Emotions Good Or Bad

[Joseph Maynor]

There appears to be a paradox that must be accepted with emotions.  On the one hand we want to reduce negative emotions from our lives, and within reason to stoke positive emotions.  But on the other hand this labeling of good or bad might become ego identification because emotions have no existential value as good or bad in themselves.  Emotions just are.  How do you reconcile this paradox regarding emotions in practice?  Is chasing feelings always egoic?

 

Edited July 1, 2017 by Joseph Maynor

[S33K3R]

Emotions are just our initial reaction to our perception of any given situation. 

To label something bad is to push it away. Once you push something away you create a fear. When you stop labeling good and bad. You can fearlessly welcome the emotion. Dissect it. And take the benefits from it. And let it go when you please. 

This is why emotions are not good or bad. You can only remain centered when you are not acting out of fear. 

[Joseph Maynor]

1 hour ago, S33K3R said:

Emotions are just our initial reaction to our perception of any given situation. 

To label something bad is to push it away. Once you push something away you create a fear. When you stop labeling good and bad. You can fearlessly welcome the emotion. Dissect it. And take the benefits from it. And let it go when you please. 

This is why emotions are not good or bad. You can only remain centered when you are not acting out of fear. 

Radical acceptance and openness.  This seems like a key value.  And not attaching thoughts to the negative emotions.

[SOUL]

There is no paradox in that because emotions are just stimuli which can motivate us to behave and they don't have anything positive or negative about them other than what we give. The way I found effective to manage emotions is to view them from the perspective of helping, hindering or having no effect in me for what I seek to accomplish.

This addresses two things that tend to manifest in self conscious, judgment and dualism, first it's far enough removed from moralistic judgment and it also gives 3 different types of influences that an emotions can have in us. People usually just see only two because of the tendency of the mind to form a duality in concept.

How emotions move in us to motivate behavior doesn't have to be unconscious conditioned response, this is what awakening and enlightenment does for us, it's illuminates in us what is darkened so we won't have to be enslaved to it..