It seems feelings are taking a centre stage these days, and maybe they always did, but under the guise of something else. Let’s be honest, eugenicists are run by their feelings, pretending it’s for the greater good of all, but really it’s because they feel that they are better, or that someone else is ‘not good enough’ for their standard. Which is based on how they feel towards something, but it’s painted as a disconnected thought that is absolute in its reasoning but is influenced and encouraged by how they feel. Nowadays, people are just admitting it for what it is, no longer pretending that they need a ‘reason’ that sounds logical, because the fact it’s their feeling is what makes it logical to them. And this is where we get some strange results in society, because everyone is working in their own version of reality, with their own feelings, thoughts and ideals. Alongside that, people are also taking part in a shared reality, covered slightly in my article Separate Realities, observing there is a parallel existence occurring within each of us. So once you give the green light for people to act solely on their feelings, and that it is ok to do that, do people then ever take the time to understand those feelings before acting? Or because they don’t need to, it’s just a constant stream of reacting.

Why is it so many can’t cope with or control their feelings and have the need to either act upon them or allow them to dictate theirs and by extension, other’s lives? Avoidance or conditioning appears to be required to get through society these days for an awful lot of people. Drugs and therapy being the to go to for many, to talk about those feeling and have someone else with feelings talk back to you about them. Then possibly give you something that will disrupt those feelings, numb them or alter them in a way that means you think you are helping them. But, and it’s a big but, my article – More Than Pain Gets Killed – looks at a very real consequence of that avenue. That lots of these things that are made available for people to help them ‘cope’, also switch off and hamper normal function, feelings, thoughts and experiences. If you ever wondered why some people seem so haphazard, destructive, and confused, then perhaps it is because it is really difficult to know which way is up, when you are mentally being turned upside down all the time or switched off altogether.

But I guess I wonder about the people at the helm of all the societal changes happening as well, the ones who like to appear very cold and detached from it all. Putting their ideals forward as a logical and reasonable conclusion they have reached after studying the data and having meetings to discuss the future. But to me, it all seems rather fanciful and from a place of desire and greed clearly, not logic at all. Making the data appear as they need it to, so they can vaguely try and hoodwink people into believing it’s for their own good, and the future depends on it. Almost as if they want it so bad, the cracks are starting to show, and the feeling they may not get what they want starts to creep in. Driven very much by feelings then it would seem, rather than just thought, and a sinister neediness that is indeed quite disturbing. And a certain future does depend on it. Theirs. The one where they really do own all the land, have all the resources and just keep people huddled into their Universe 25’s like the good little mice they see us as. So we can perform for them, be their test subjects, and follow the ‘natural’ path given the correct conditions they want to set up. Although mostly it is through brutish and bullying tactics they aim to achieve these things, as people are not going along with it as planned it would seem or are not as docile to the set up as they maybe thought. Feelings will always be there though, and to a point should be a driving force for our species, they can be useful and wonderful given the correct focus and stimuli. It should be noted however, that everyone has them (mostly), and while you can indulge them in others if you so choose, it’s good to know when to separate yourself from someone else’s when they require too much of you. Taking over and overshadowing yours because in the end, destructive and controlling people want to be the dominant ones whose feelings will always come before others, if they are even aware of anyone else’s. So, before you give your time, energy, focus, thoughts and feelings to something or someone, ask yourself what is motivating it or them, it might save you a bit of time and energy along the way…

(c) K Wicks

As people, we aren’t supposed to be robotic, numb and automated. There is something extremely human about feelings and the emotions that often follow. Not that we are always equipped or experienced to know what to with said feelings, but they remain for the most part, as a sometimes-unpredictable constant in our lives. We are at the mercy of our own feelings, and from those of people around us. Ours can be affected by others, just as others can be affected by ours. And I wonder whether people have this in mind at all when they go about their daily lives.

Of course, it can’t have escaped people’s notice that feelings are being cited as weapons in very real situations. But who examines and validates those feelings? Someone else, with feelings. And that’s where things have started to get quite messy. Online and in real life, because those feelings are causing consequences. The action itself is not the cause, otherwise for the most part, everyone would feel the same. Throwing a word or insult is not always the problem, it’s how it’s received. There used to be a saying

“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.

It’s apt isn’t it. And I got its meaning as a kid, and I like to think it’s what has helped me gain slightly thicker skin for petty words, and a better measure of internal stability. Or perhaps it’s because often, I will firstly examine why the person has said what they said, secondly will look at what was said, and then lastly will review its impact on my own thoughts. Maybe other people reach for that first, they react rather than examine. I can’t blame them for that, some people are reactionary.

And I am all for reacting when slighted, or given what I consider good reason to. But that’s part of it isn’t it? What I decide is good reason. And surely everyone is doing the same, reacting to things they believe deserve a reaction. Which is where self-awareness and reasoning skills are important I think. To know and understand really where someone else is coming from, can help to form an appropriate response. And it will be different for everyone, feelings, thoughts and identity are very personal and individual, and usually based on experience. That’s why ‘following the crowd’ more often than not is a bad thing, because you don’t know the real intention, motives or mindset. You never will as part of a large group, it’s the nature of it.

Being you, with your thoughts and feelings is important, and knowing how you came to have them. That doesn’t mean you can’t be part of something, but be wary of something that wants to ‘absorb’ you into their fold, it usually starts with trying to celebrate your individualism, because it appears it will bring them something. And it does. It brings them you, because a group needs energy and ideas to sustain itself, and often I’ve seen how it becomes its own monster, swallowing all in its path of self-fulfilment. I guess the internet and social media are no different. In the virtual world or real life, they behave the same.

But being able to play on feeling, use them against people and manipulate situations with them, means it is becoming more and more important to understand what kind of a role they play. I may work on logic and reason, but I actually take feelings into account when making those decisions. Knowing when to indulge them, override them or utilise them can put you in good stead for an easier life. And knowing how to guard yourself against others using them as a weapon against you is of paramount importance. Gaslighting is a term we shouldn’t have, yet many are familiar with it, and the government itself has given us a prime example of it recently, my article Nudge Nudge mentions that a bit more. And while in some respects, I have time for people’s feelings, and will care greatly about how they are impacted, that will soon disappear if it becomes apparent that person is either taking the piss, or trying to gain an advantage by wielding those feelings. So, we have a fine line that we all walk, in ourselves and with others, and learning to have some social cohesion relies on people understanding that there is a line, and a point where some things will not be entertained. Just not everyone will give you a heads up or warning about where that line is, and maybe you won’t even know in yourself, until the moment someone or something crosses it. But they do say, once you cross that line, there is no going back…

(c) K Wicks