Fear, Anger, Hate
Dec. 15th, 2011 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sobriqueTwo quotes that are related. Bonus points if you can guess the source (of both, the first one's easy!)
"Fear, hate, anger, the dark side are these."
If he'd thought about it, I'm sure he'd have included blame and resentment as well.
And:
"There's magic in forgiveness."
Now, the reason they're related - they're all about emotions, and emotions that are ones aimed at someone or something.
That often leads to a trap though - because it's all too easy to focus on the target.
You fear Someone.
You hate Someone.
You blame Someone.
And you forgive Someone.
But the problem here, is the really important person in these emotions, is not the 'someone else'. But you.
The real reasons these emotions are 'of the dark side' is nothing to do with what you fear or hate. It's because they taint your perception of the world. They're an insidious poison, that skew your worldview, and make it a darker place.
That goes double if the thing you hate, fear or blame is yourself. I'm sure everyone's done it, at some point or other. That feeling of failure, of guilt that leads to self doubt, and self hate.
But still - it's not the subject of the emotion that matters, but the source.
The reason forgiveness is so inextricably linked though - forgiving someone is _also_ very little do to with the subject. It's all about letting go and putting aside all those dark side emotions. Forgiving isn't about forgetting. It's about letting go of that poison inside of you, and letting it go away, rather than clutching it close to your heart, where it can most hurt you.
So next time you feel tempted to 'stray towards the dark side' - just stop and think for a moment. Who's that actually hurting?
"Fear, hate, anger, the dark side are these."
If he'd thought about it, I'm sure he'd have included blame and resentment as well.
And:
"There's magic in forgiveness."
Now, the reason they're related - they're all about emotions, and emotions that are ones aimed at someone or something.
That often leads to a trap though - because it's all too easy to focus on the target.
You fear Someone.
You hate Someone.
You blame Someone.
And you forgive Someone.
But the problem here, is the really important person in these emotions, is not the 'someone else'. But you.
The real reasons these emotions are 'of the dark side' is nothing to do with what you fear or hate. It's because they taint your perception of the world. They're an insidious poison, that skew your worldview, and make it a darker place.
That goes double if the thing you hate, fear or blame is yourself. I'm sure everyone's done it, at some point or other. That feeling of failure, of guilt that leads to self doubt, and self hate.
But still - it's not the subject of the emotion that matters, but the source.
The reason forgiveness is so inextricably linked though - forgiving someone is _also_ very little do to with the subject. It's all about letting go and putting aside all those dark side emotions. Forgiving isn't about forgetting. It's about letting go of that poison inside of you, and letting it go away, rather than clutching it close to your heart, where it can most hurt you.
So next time you feel tempted to 'stray towards the dark side' - just stop and think for a moment. Who's that actually hurting?
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 09:58 pm (UTC)BUT.
Sometimes it helps to hate someone, even if it's just for a while, as a way of focussing yourself - "I'll show HIM". "I'll get even, I'll be better than him". It's working for me, for now. Later, I shall probably just expunge this object of hate from my awareness altogether, because frankly, he doesn't deserve forgiving.
One of my current favourite quotes is not unrelated to this...
Date: 2011-12-15 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-16 08:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-16 08:22 am (UTC)One of the things Lucus failed with in the Star Wars films, but some of the games handled better with other characters is that there isn't really such as thing as "light side" or "dark side" when it comes to the force powers as they're only tools, but instead it is about the use you put them to. Hate, Fear and Anger _can_ be positive emotions, but you have to think about them rather then let them control you.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:29 pm (UTC)Emotions are what defines us.
I try to have rational thought define me. (Of course this is a project that failed ... yes at work, but no otherwise)
Saying you forgive and actually forgiving ... there is a real difference.
Trying to apply rational thought... yes... but you REALLY need to BELIEVE!!!!
Emotions need to be experienced... hence the difference between emotions and rational thought... preaching... teaching... the best intentions can fail, for all that counts is true belief or experience... and me for one am somewhat sceptical.
What does help are discussions like these. Yes there is self realiasation. But also there is "food for thought".