THERE ARE MANY POINTS IN LIFE when your emotions become overwhelming . It is so easy , in those moments , to give in to your emotions . However , when you give in to your emotions , you suffer the most .
Endurance in spiritual terminology refers to the ability to handle one ’ s emotions even in the most difficult of situations . Endurance is like durability .
There are different kinds of suitcases on the market made with different materials . The most durable suitcases will be sold at the most expensive price . The durability of luggage is assessed by applying pressure to see how much the material can take before it is damaged .
A material that is not easy to break is durable . If a human being doesn ’ t crack under pressure and survives against the odds , he has endurance . As more people learn how to manipulate emotions , having endurance is a necessary skill in today ’ s world .
When you surrender yourself to your emotions , you inhibit your ability to think clearly . Emotions , when they are overwhelmingly excessive , behave like alcohol . Some people are so affected by their emotions that if you were to check their heart rate and blood pressure when they are in an intense emotional state , the reading would be the same as if they were drunk . Any news – whether it is extremely good or extremely bad – will run shockwaves through their bodies .
At the time of adversity , you can control your emotions through prayer , meditation , yoga and various different things . On the other hand , when some people are extraordinarily happy , they behave as if they are intoxicated . In this scenario , it is not easy to calm their emotional state .
The more emotionally charged up you are , the less you are using your intelligence . This is where the danger lies .
When you are controlled by your emotions , you are vulnerable to being manipulated . Some people with bad intentions will seize the opportunity to use your emotions to their own advantage .
HH Younus AlGohar says , ‘ Guard your emotions like you guard your virginity . Anybody can come and tell you a story . You shouldn ’ t expose your emotions to people .’
When you are in an emotional state , everything looks different . When you are angry , in the heat of the moment , you say things that you don ’ t mean . In normal life , you will see that there are many hurdles for you , but when you are extremely happy , you will see no boundaries and you will think that you can do anything .
Emotions are so powerful that they supersede all your intellect . Sometimes , these emotions can really misguide you . If the intellect is separated from your emotions , you are in trouble 1 . Make sure you control your emotions as much as possible in order to safeguard yourself from all emotional manipulations that may take place .
WHY DO WE PRAY IN HARD TIMES ?
Food for thought about patterns of human behaviour
Religious people find solace in prayers and worship during times of adversity . The majority of people who practise a religion are not from well-to-do families , especially in the developing world . In these countries , worshippers flock to their respective worship places to pray to God for food . When someone gives them food , they say , ‘ God heard my prayers ; I was hungry and someone fed me .’
HH Younus AlGohar notes , ‘ This is the pattern of our behaviour . You will never appreciate the efforts of the person who helped you , but thankfulness from you will go to God .’
So in hard times , prayers have a soothing effect ; they are a way for religious people to control their negative emotions . When religious people are overjoyed , on the other hand , how would they control their emotions ? Most people , in happy times , forget God . They only remember him at the time of need .
1 For more tips on how to control your emotional state , refer to our May edition of the Messiah Herald : Self-Awareness Level 2 , Part 1 : Save Society with EQ !
MESSIAH HERALD / ISSUE 05 / JUN 2017 11