The Smiling Robot
Posted by Raul on November 11, 2010
There is such a fuss nowadays about self growth and reaching a perfect state, where we can be at peace and balance with life and nature. The idea seems to be reaching a point where we don’t get affected by the negative situations around us, so we can remain in a state of happiness and inner balance
If we reach a state of never being mad, never being sad, never being scared, how we suppose to call ourselves real human beings? Wouldn’t we become just smiling robots? Courtesy people all around, that flows in a society where a full range of human feelings are an uncivilized custom from the past? Could that be called “Living Life”?
I’m not saying we should let our anger flourish at any time we feel it, so we are being human, but rather accept the experience while we remain polite in the outside to those who have no part in it, and politely argue with those who might be the reason for our anger.
One thing is to have control over our emotions, and another completely different is suppressing them.
So, in my personal opinion, it is not about learning and adapting to always be happy and seeing the good in every situation, but rather learning to control our reactions to our feelings rather than suppressing them.
Reality is harsh and ugly sometimes; there are wars and crime and deceive in society, so closing our eyes to it in order to see just the beauty and good will (which does exist) will only promote selfishness in everyone.
“My personal world of happiness”
Closing our eyes and mind to the bad things of reality in order to see and feel just the good, so we can remain in a happy state permanently it is not just perceiving half of life and thus, living half a life, but with it we are being just half a human being.
So my point is: Is it the right direction to go on and pursue the perfect balance in the way of retreating to an idyllic state, where we can shut off the commonly considered negative feelings by the way of training our perception to filter the given situations, and become capable of only perceiving the happy part of it, discarding the (still real), ugly side of things?
Or should it be a more realistic approach to learn to deal in a more civilized manner with the ugly side of things, in order to retain the full range of feelings a human being is capable of, instead of just creating a shortcut and just eliminate part of ourselves?
Raul
Isn’t that called maturity?!
Raul Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Hi Carol,
Ouch! If learning to deal with situations and our own anger is called maturity; then suppresing the bad feelings to remain in a state of happiness by blindness should be called inmaturity.
From that point, the trend seemss to be returning to childhood behaviors, and live imaginary games rather than reality.
Not a good situation for society!
Thank you for your input
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
Carol Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I enjoy your thoughts.
Raul Reply:
November 13th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Thank you! Your comments are always welcome
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
I thought it was denial to pretend the challenges don’t happen? Sadness and frustration and anger exist as we are human – that is part of the experience whether we enjoy that part of not. For me, it is about learning to respond over react – learning to let go of the feelings once they are expressed and moving beyond them into whatever happens next. I think that sadness and frustration and anger are challenges – but they are often the challenges that help us see where we are and help us grow or learn to choose or experience something else. I can’t imagine life without the ups and downs – the passion however it plays out.
The Exception´s last [type] ..Pieces of Peace
Raul Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Hi The Exception,
I like the way you put it: “Learning to respond over react”
Growing so to be able to handle the situations, over just having instinctive reactions to them.
Thank you for your contribution
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
Raul,
I hear you..
I am a positive, high energy, create magic kind of person..I believe I shall focus on and grow the *good* so that there is not room for *bad*..however I also think those are just labels that we put on a moment..
When I turn off my mind and experience life with my senses..then moments just “are”..neither good nor bad..just an experience..
My life quote is “I’d rather be a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without”..I know that struggles are a result of places I’ve acted out of fear or resisted a lesson..I know I create struggle..I also know I create magic..so I choose magic..while I embrace life’s moments exactly as they are..
And yes, I work at a hospital whose clients are low income inner city people..I’ve spent lots of time counseling homeless or mentally ill patients..working in homeless shelters..I share generously with those who have far less than I on all levels..those one might consider ‘forgotten’..I am in the trenches..so I get ‘it’ I absolutely know what exists..I choose not to give it power..I am in a bubble of good, so that I may share from that bubble..I want “you” to know love, I want to heal “you:–so I need to be love, be a healer..I know it’s different than most, so thank you for listening to my point of view..
Joy´s last [type] ..The Gift…
Raul Reply:
November 11th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Hi Joy,
The work you do counseling those in need of hope and love is simply awesome! I can see the importance of being able to find love and beauty to share, more than others that need it for themselves only. Lifting those who are down requires a very special approach to life and heart. I imagine you can see in their faces the lack of beauty in life after their lifetime struggles, and giving hope must be a gigantic task that requires someone capable of enduring more than what a normal person would.
Those of us who read your blog can see you are one with those very special talents, reserved for a few who dedicate themselves to help those in need of a hand, when lying in the pit of discouragement. Your words are always uplifting…thank you for that, and what you do to help those in need
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
Hi Raul.
I’m commenting here because I wasn’t able to comment on your 1-year blog anniversary post for some odd reason. So… Congrats on one year. Loved the pics of the Denver Clouds. Especially “The Visitor” and “Face Looking Down”. There really *is* a face in the clouds!
Now… as for this post. I was just reading another post where I read the statement about noticing how different it feels to make a decision based on what you want as opposed to what you are fearful of.
Makes me think that some people who are strict in their studies of personal development are afraid to get angry. They lose themselves in “spirituality” but it’s not authentic.
Davina Haisell´s last [type] ..Misstakes Dew Happen
Raul Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Hi Davina,
Due to spam I had to close comments in posts older than eight days, so that’s the reason you couldn’t make a comment there…sorry about that
Some of the clouds had a very strange shape. “Face Looking Down” was just outside my house one afternoon; while “Visitors” was in the airport area…completely different to all the others around.
Making a decision based on what we want, opposed to what we are fearful of…good point. Maybe you are right; maybe a big part of trying to live a perfect state of mind could be motivated in some people by the fears of not having control over the surroundings.
Thank you for your input
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
I enjoyed reading your post. So much wisdom in here. Wanting things fast and not being happy in the here and now are challenges that a lot of us face. Yes, I like the idea of making a decision on what we want rather than getting stuck in our fears.
Evelyn Lim´s last [type] ..The 5Cs of Buddhism
Raul Reply:
November 13th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Hi Evelyn,
I guess is about always keep moving with the confidence that we do have what it takes.
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..The Smiling Robot
yes i agree, we are humans
Raul Reply:
November 15th, 2010 at 5:03 am
Hi Farouk,
Interesting website you have
Raul
I think emotion and feeling is part of the reason we incarnate into this physical world. This world is full of emotion and it is necessarily part of the human experience. We can’t exist on this planet without feeling emotion. We, as humans, define positive and negative emotions. It is quite possible that all emotions are inherently good, since it’s part of an experience we are meant to have.
Eric | Eden Journal´s last [type] ..Personal Development Campfire – Giving Thanks
Raul Reply:
November 15th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Hi Eric,
Emotions and feelings are part of us, so how can we “restrain” some of them, so to leave room just to the others?
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..Escaping the Mud
Raul,
I like this, you are so right, if we all behaved perfectly and had all emotions under control, we would be kind of like robots.
Okay, I am giving my permission to feel anger, hurt and other emotions, happily
I love your unique posts my friend.
Zengirl @ Heart and Mind´s last [type] ..Giving Thanks- How Gratitude Can Improve Your Life
Raul Reply:
November 18th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Hi Zengirl,
I’m glad you are giving your permission to fell anger, hurt and other emotions
Sometimes nothing relieves tension like a good scream in a confined environment, where we can’t hurt others in the process.
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..Escaping the Mud
Raul — I agree with a lot of your saying in the post, with some cautions. I, for one, have a temper and anger is familiar to me, something I accept.
This doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t recognize that anger can be my own “circular firing squad” It’s often not productive for me. So, I work at knowing when to let go of my anger and when to let fuel me to make a change I may need to make. The point is I use my anger; it doesn’t use me.
Regarding seeking happiness and contentment in life, I don’t think we have to hide from the negative to do this, but I do think we need to “filter” the negative. For example, I choose not to watch CNN News every day, like I used to do. It made me anxious, frustrated and yes, unhappy. When I quit watching it, I felt a lot better:~) I still get news, but I am cautious about my exposure to negative energy and I believe the steps I’ve taken to reduce this have made a better person…that’s just my thoughts about this:~)
You always write such thought-provoking posts. I enjoy them very much!!!
Sara´s last [type] ..First Love
Raul Reply:
November 18th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Hi Sara,
“The point is I use my anger; it doesn’t use me.”
I like that! It is not about suppressing, but rather re-directing it.
And yes, filtering is necessary, specially these days of so much “stuff” in the media. But that wouldn’t be suppressing the anger, instead, in my opinion; it’ll be preventing it from happening.
Is different to avoid a bad moment, when we still accept anger as part of our emotions, than forcing oneself to not feeling it when the situation calls for it. Avoiding some TV programs we are not suppressing our emotions, but just protecting them from getting “activated”.
Thank you for your contribution; you always bring more to these thoughts
Raul
Raul´s last [type] ..Escaping the Mud