Energy in motion. One of the things that powers us as humans. Fear, hate, greed, sorrow, joy, curiosity, jealousy, and more. Why are we so impacted by these things in such a way that affects our actions, relationships, and even our personal thought patterns? I can't speak for everyone, only myself. I know that I'm impacted by this energy because I don't have a good handle on controlling the energy. Maybe, I am the wrong person to be directing this energy in the first place. But that's just the issue: why do we misplace the important task of putting our energy in motion to people and things that aren't important? I believe that motion involves influence. I'll go over three simple tracks that people are influenced, but give my personal perspective on the impact it has on each of us individually, as well as collectively.
Influenced by People
This has to be the most common ways that we get that e-motion sickness. Obviously, there's peer pressure, but I think it's deeper than that. Sometimes, our emotions are influenced by people we wouldn't even consider to be our "peer." Yet, it's easier for it to be affected by someone we don't like rather than someone we do. I think the particular emotion I'm speaking of--whether it's from someone you admire or despise--is envy, or jealousy. Drake once said, "Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time." Although I do think some of Mr. Graham's bars are discredited (personally), this was a very profound and keen quote to make. Why is that? I believe that it's usually something regarding material things. Money. A partner. A car or a house. Even a credit score can influence our emotions! Can you believe it? I bet you can, because I'm sure at one time or another you have been impacted in a negative way emotionally based off of someone else's circumstance. I'm not exempt. However, I know that I wouldn't trade anyone for their toilet. Because with a toilet comes the plumbing. Imagine you think that a golden oval in someone's life is better than what you have, but when it comes down to it, they can't even flush it. It all holds the same thing, and you wouldn't want someone else's burden that is now your responsibility to get rid of or live with. Lately, I've had to humble myself often to that regard. People are important. Being influenced emotionally by people on the other hand, is not.
Influenced by Things
I touched on it a bit earlier on how we can have envy and jealousy over other people's things. Not only can we be affected by another person's materials, we can often be blinded by our own. Again, I'm not exempt. With this brand, a part of it what we stand for is independence. The independence in particular is financial. I'll be honest and say that I have too much regard for my money when it's in the market and it causes loss. That's the first mistake in trading. The market has no emotion. Therefore, a trader is to be emotionless, which can go for either gain or loss. It's completely objective. It's the same way with money. A job. A relationship. School. Your car or house. Why put energy into things which have no energy? This can oftentimes be more problematic than being influenced by others and you don't want to be affected in either way if you can help it. But sometimes we can't help it. I can even be blinded by the success--or lack thereof--of my brand. When ultimately, that's not even what's important. Which brings me to my last, and perhaps most important level of influence that we don't pay enough attention to.
Influenced by Ourselves
This can easily be the most detrimental influence of all. How many times do we truly think we have the best in mind for ourselves, but it turns out to be the opposite? I can negatively affect myself emotionally. It happens frequently, and the funny thing is that me being a Christian, I know what it takes to not have so much pressure on myself to feel that e-motion sickness. It is indeed a sickness, and a self-inflicted one as well. When I'm not blinded by my own emotions, I see that others live their lives in this way. But imagine telling a blind person that they're blind? Either they'll be upset, or they'll just flat out ignore you. I'm sure it's from one of the two reasons: either they heard it before and they know, or they know and don't want to do anything about it. Clearly, you wouldn't tell a physically blind person this. Nonetheless, you know what a blind person looks like. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally. I consider myself to be an analytical person and I pick up on a lot of cues from conversation, body language, and vocal tone. Humans are very intricate beings, and made to be so. That being said, it's not always the best call to make a judgement call off of things you pick up from the surface. Heck, it's not best to judge at all. I have to correct myself when I do judge or catch myself judging unnecessarily, because me being 5'6 and a multitude of things defective about me in a multitude of areas would not be nice to hear someone else point out. I don't think it's really important to judge, nor be judged. It is important, though, to have the awareness to know that at moments you can be your own worst enemy. I can give multiple testimonies to that, but that'd take up a large amount of Snake Eyes posts. What I can tell you is that we can be our best friend if we relinquish the desire to control what isn't necessary to be controlled by us in the first place. I don't know what you believe in, reader, but God is the ultimate multitasker. I deliberately choose to put what I cannot control or handle--which is most things--to him and make my yoke lighter. I think that's a rather selfless act to do that rather than put it on myself, a job, or another person.
In conclusion, make sure that while you're on this road of life, that you don't move too fast that you get a bad case of e-motion sickness. Influence is powerful, but the power only comes from what you give it. Keep in mind that attention goes where energy flows. Emotions, however, aren't worth your attention. Make the main things the main things, stay objective, and things in your life will become much clearer to act on.
- II