The Nature of Feelings – An Introduction
You may notice a preference in the posts that follow for describing thinking and not feeling. This prioritization of thoughts and feelings is intentional but it is not meant to devalue the role and importance of feelings. Indeed, feelings are as critical to the process of seeking ataraxis as thoughts. It does reflect the view that you can direct thoughts but you cannot direct your feelings unless you first direct your thoughts. This view allows for spontaneous feelings or feelings that arise without a thought but does not allow for directing or modifying feelings unless first directing thoughts.
After all, you can do things like exercising or listening to music to make yourself feel better. You can change take medicine or drugs or certain foods to improve your feelings. You cannot direct yourself to feel better without first thinking, however.
Finally, at the risk of stating the obvious, thoughts can generate feelings and feelings can generate thoughts in an unending cycle. This cycle can become self-perpetuating, particularly when mindlessness is at work. Indeed, it may be impossible to separate thoughts and feelings if someone is profoundly unaware of the causal relationship they have. In any event, thoughts and feelings are intertwined, even though the discussion below focuses on thoughts alone to start.
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