#thevalue

When we value our opinions more than we value understanding, and the need to listen to other people’s opinions, we’re heading for a collision course.

Politicians and the sound of their own voices

We’re seeing it more and more in the news, in politics from all parties and in the world today. Politicians have got used to the sound of their own voices. They listen to themselves, sticking to their own thought processes and opinions, their own rhetoric, without accepting other politicians' views or opinions, and without mediation.

Without the 'understanding'

But without the understanding that we need to listen and accept other people have opinions and can bring further understanding, without mediation, we are heading for a collision course, which can both hinder mental and emotional growth and cause physical illness. Opinions can physically and mentally harm, when we're narrow minded and blinkered.

Learning the values of understanding and listening

To grow we need to learn the values of understanding and listening; to be informed, adaptable, open to suggestions, and accepting of other people’s opinions. While my blog may be difficult to read at times, because I take 'us' through our paces and me through my experiences, it continues to highlight a universal view of the world, which we would do well to listen to.

It also informs, outlines, but more importantly, it helps steer and navigate.

Having lived through experiences I wouldn’t want others to have experienced and not having the emotional support, I know and understand the beneficial psychological effects of talking about how we feel.

Over the years psychology has turned its attention to researching and looking into negative emotions and negative effects and how those can bring about conditions like depression, anger and stress. If a condition like depression is allowed to continue, it can signal the presence of a psychological disorder.

Even as a small child I was aware of just how important our emotions were, and why being positive was an important part of that. As long as we continue to think about and see our lives positively, those positives will always bring about possibilities we didn’t think were possible.

It’s not only important that we cultivate and nurture our emotions, but we must also deal with our issues, because those will emotionally hurt us if we’re not at peace with them, or ourselves. Feeling content and satisfied, being loved, all enhance our ability to adapt and allow for resilience, while negative emotions do the opposite.

Positive emotions can also enhance our ability to problem solve and even infuse negative situations with positive meaning; it’s that which facilitates us bouncing back. We cannot think about cultivating positivity until we deal with the issues that cause us depression, anger and stress in the first place.

The value of positive emotions, which are relatively recently being understood, are part of mental health and mental health issues.