Do What All Good Scientists Do: Experiment

Dear Reader, 

Courtesy of alphacoders.com

Anger, fear, sadness and joy are the core of human emotion. You may have seen one of Disney's animated films entitled "Inside Out," which tells a unique story of how these emotions affect a young girl going experiencing a change of home, school and friends as her family moves across country. They play a pivotal role in how we act as human beings and as children of a Heavenly Father. 

I recently went to an event where we participated in several activities to explore how important emotions are. One of the exercises was exploring how the core emotions are essential and helpful, but can also lead us to feel other emotions that are not essential nor helpful. 


For example, fear is a core emotion because it can keep us safe from danger. Anxiety, although related to fear and similar in nature, is not the same. Anxiety weighs us down and keeps us from doing things that would be good for us or experiences that help us feel joy. One of my favorite quotes states that "Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is not letting the fear control you." 

Anger is another core emotion that helps us. It helps us discover what is important to us and helps us develop self-control. Actually, the difference between anger and rage is that control.  The main speaker at this event mentioned above said, "Anger is a sword; rage is a bomb." Anger does not have to be out-of-control fits. That is rage, which deals a lot of damage that is usually very difficult to repair. 
Sadness helps us by giving us contrast and by helping us realize that life is not perfect. As discussed in our activity, depression is a mental illness that is detrimental if not handled correctly. Sadness is something that we feel to help us move closer to feeling joy. 

A friend of mine shared a song lyric with me yesterday, which provided today's title: Experiment. I don't know exactly where the song originated. As far as I can tell, the song was written by Cole Porter, a composer/jazz musician that died in 1964. The song has lyrics that support the idea from above that we can use the core emotions to our advantage and learn to control them. The lyrics describe how anger, fear and sadness are what help you analyze the outcome of your experiments. 

Experiment. Be curious, though interfering friends may frown. Get furious at each attempt to hold you down. If this advice you always employ the future can offer you infinite joy And merriment; Experiment and you'll see Whenever doubtful take a chance. Experiment and you'll discover sweet romance. When in a state of ignorant bliss Regarding a creature you crave 'Tis folly, my friend, to behave, Experiment, be curious, And when you've picked a perfect wife, Get furious Till she is yours and yours for life. If this you do (and no cock-and-bull) In time she may give you a nursery full Of merriment. Experiment and you'll see.

This lyric can seem kind of counter-intuitive if we don't understand that our core emotions exist in order to help us develop self-control. However, I tell you today that when Cole Porter says, "Get furious at each attempt to hold you down," he is referring to the passion to follow your dreams and show the world what they mean to you. Do not rage and throw a fit when you do not accomplish your goals. Instead, control your anger, fear and sadness and funnel them into creative ideas and new attempts at your goals. The more shots you put up, the more will go in. 

Thomas Edison probably was angry or sad every time he did not successfully create a light bulb. In response to these emotions and people criticizing him, he said, "I have no failed. I have found 10,000 ways that do not work." 

Experiment, my friend. Experiment.