The Exculpation of Circumstances

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Lately I have been reading and thinking about the level of influence circumstances have on emotions. There is a distinction that needs to be made between feelings and emotions. Feelings are stimuli we receive from the world around us. Emotions are conscious responses to such stimuli. Some people argue that some emotions are inevitable; however, that has always seemed to me as contrary to an inherent property of being human: The eternal truth of agency. If circumstances were to define how we are to react to stimuli, then we would lose our freedom of choice. Circumstances, defined as the existing conditions surrounding an agent, may only affect him or her to his degree of allowance. They may not impose or define his or her actions, emotions, and desires. These are therefore rooted in aspects of consciousness and under the control of oneself. So, experiencing emotions of boredom, anger, sadness, disappointment, happiness, love, or hatred, is our choice. I do recognize that it is easier to blame the circumstances for what happens to us and for our state of mind, but the responsible thing is to choose what state of mind we want to be in every minute of our lives.

Why write?

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Descartes once wrote the famous phrase: Cogito ergo sum-- I think, therefore I am; which I believe to be true from many perspectives. It is because we think that we can be aware of and have the ability to mold our existence. It is because of our thoughts, which lead to actions, that we can leave a mark in this world. Those who fail to think are those that are victims of the circumstances, and, unable to realize their own potential, become what others want them to become; losing their identity in the sea of people.
I also believe, however, that thinking is not enough to make a difference, since that only happens when thought find a means of expression. Thus, the raison d'ĂȘtre for this blog is to express my thoughts on my experiences and other situations life wills upon me, and hopefully this way I'll be able to leave a mark, even if it is on the web.