Ilchi Lee

To avoid making regrettable emotional decisions, look within

In 1994, neurologist Antonio Damasio wrote the bold and influential book, Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain. The book challenged the popular opinion of “I think therefore I am,” which suggests that the mind functions as a distinct entity from the body.

Instead, Damasio argued, emotions and feelings are essential to reasoning.

Damasio writes: “If an emotion is a collection of changes in body state connected to particular mental images that have activated a specific brain system, the essence of feeling an emotion is the experience of such changes in juxtaposition to the mental images that initiated the cycle.”

As Ilchi Lee, originator of Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of Principles of Brain Management and the forthcoming In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, writes: “In actuality, nothing makes you happy or angry. The emotions all come from within you.”

By understanding that our brains are the root of our emotions, we can begin to stop externalizing—we can stop looking for answers and/or causes to our problems that we have no control over. It is a process Lee calls “Turning It Outside In.”

From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from Principles of Brain Management)

Are there conditions in you life that your don’t like but that never seem to change no matter how hard you try to make them change? Quit trying to make them change. Instead, see how you can change yourself in relation to the problem. Yes, there are some truly intolerable situations that are genuinely beyond repair. In this worst-case scenario, you can resolve within yourself to leave the situation entirely. But most human problems are not so absolute. More than likely, even small changes that come from within you will completely transform your situation. They can change the way you communicate with others and help you reformulate your methods of coping with problems.

5 Comments

cloud January 28, 2008 Votes: +0	It's much easier to blame outside things, but then nothing gets better! We really do need to look inside to change ourselves and create our happiness. report abuse vote down vote up
Hahn Sung January 28, 2008 Votes: +0	It is so true. My inner state does determine my emotions. When I feel good everything looks pretty good. My jobb now is to feel good all the time. From the inside! report abuse vote down vote up
Karen D. January 30, 2008 Votes: +0	I understand what Ilchi is saying. However I am a little confused especially what is going on in my life right now. Is changing ourselves the only answer? Doesn't it take a group of people sometimes to be more creative? Doesn't a stir up of emotions sometimes make people really see how you are really hurting? Isn't that sensitivity that reach others in that way realize how energy should be changing at the moment? report abuse vote down vote up
davidsho February 01, 2008 Votes: +0	This is all true but there is one thing that overrides everything else. Choice. When we get to a point of operating from our true self, it becomes evident that no matter what happens outside, we have to choose. If something bad happens to us at work, someone gets angry at us because something went wrong....we can choose to jump right into the emotions or we can stay at home and say, that just happened. That's not good. But what can I do to make it right. Then do it. As my master (Chun Shim Nim) taught me...you can jump in the sea of emotion and float around there or you can get back in your boat. We all get emotional. We are not perfect. It's how fast we get back in the boat. report abuse vote down vote up
Karen D. February 01, 2008 Votes: +0	Yeah, thank you Davidsho, you have made things a little bit more clearer. I would say at this point getting back in the boat is sort of like a recharge. IT can give you clarity and peace of mind before you take action, in good hopes the next time you do or may have to you do it in a more positive way. I think taking action sometimes is very important. It is a fine line, however most importantly everything should be done in the name of love. report abuse vote down vote up