Facing up to Emotions
Some time ago I borrowed a friend’s car. After driving it a short distance I realised that that the puddle that was under the parked car, and that I was told could be safely ignored, was probably transmission fluid, and that the power of the car was slowly deteriorating. In concentrating on the car and its problems I missed my turning. It occurred to me that there is a similarity between being distracted by a faulty car whilst driving and by emotional problems while trying to function intellectually.
People who are going through emotionally trying times perform below par. For example when a person goes through a divorce the emotional strain makes it very difficult for them to function intellectually. On a corporate level, internal emotional friction between staff prevents the company operating at full potential.
There are a number of factors here that are pertinent. One is to what extent the person is aware of their emotional problems. Many people are so cut off from their emotions that they are unaware of the extent that they are being drained emotionally. It’s similar to people who learn to survive on very little sleep but are unaware that this lack of sleep causes them to function inefficiently. Some people immerse themselves in their intellectual day-to-day pursuits in order to keep the emotional problems at bay. Eventually, however, they have to be dealt with.
The relationship between the rational part of our consciousness – the aspect that many people identify with – and the emotions is barely understood. In dreams these aspects often appear as characters. Sometimes they are not identifiable as a particular individual. Sometimes they pursue us and are in darkness or shadows.
There's a story I read of a woman who had a frightening dream. In the dream
she was surrounded by her family and was given a present. It was a box tied
up with a bow. From the box there was a noise and she was afraid of what was
in it. She didn't want to open it but with her family watching there was no
choice. Warily she undid the bow and opened the box. Inside was a cuddly kitten.
The fear of facing up to emotional issues can stifle us and prevent us working to our full potential. In fact, if they are confronted not only is there often nothing to fear but the result can be something wonderful. For example, when a marriage hits a difficulty, the husband may work long hours in order to avoid facing up to his wife. Eventually they talk and what seemed an insurmountable problem is resolved amicably. As a result the marriage is stronger. There may even be what is colloquially called ‘make-up sex’.
