subject: Why It's All Your Fault! [print this page] Brain scientists have now confirmed that the parts of the brain that generate our emotional tendencies, such as anger, passion, love, fear and hate actually DO exist separate and independently from the external stimulus that may exist in the world around us.
All human emotions flow from an organ that you can put in a jar - called the brain. This organ exists separate and independent of the external environment. The "jar" this organ sits in is called your skull. All human emotions flow from this organ. They do not flow from external stimulus.
Therefore, scientifically speaking, it is inaccurate and, in fact, illogical to say "You made me mad." Further, when we act out of anger and end up hurting those we love, it is beyond absurd to say, "You made me do it."
It is more accurate to say that the emotion called anger (or the potential for anger) was already present within the brain - independent of any external stimulus. People who have outbursts of anger for no reason, or for relatively minor offenses, have somehow lost their ability to regulate the flow of these emotions. Do you know anyone like this?
When confronted with their own irrational behavior as with a mirror, they themselves can't comprehend why they would have acted in such an irrational manner. After they have calmed down, even they know it doesn't make sense. But they HAVE to make sense of it somehow. So, their only response is to find fault with something or someone else in the world around them. Hence the excuse, "You made me mad. It was all YOUR fault."
And that's why I go backpacking, scuba diving and fishing. Fish, bears and mountain lions don't piss me off near as much as people do.
Professional: Dan Castro is the owner/broker of Austin Options Realty in Austin, Texas. He is also the award-winning author of CRITICAL CHOICES THAT CHANGE LIVES. www.greateraustinrealestateguide.com
