mt,

You wrote,

“ep,

To me, aiming at “mastering emotions” is much like aiming at “mastering taste buds”. When certain food enters the mouth, responses happen. We can choose what we eat, but spicy food tingles, sweet foods taste sweet, bitter foods taste bitter. To master the taste buds, we can accept what is in the mouth, and chew mindfully, not become beholden to spicy or sweet or bitter foods. With emotions its the same. Watching thoughts, watching emotions, noticing how they rise and fade removes the contention. They’re just emotions… so why make a fuss, why lament them?

To me, the highest level of taste bud mastery is someone that doesn’t get up from the table to try to chase down the cook.

With warmth,
Matt”

I am not a goal-setter anymore and do not aim. Knowing one’s highest standard is not meant as a target or destination, or even a measurement. It is for having a clear and accurate compass reading. I am not looking to arrive, but it is useful and enjoyable to know if I am headed in the right direction or just making good time.

Neither do I fuss or lament. For some reason this reminds me of when I lived in Füssen, Germany. People fussed around, and I wrote a poem:

Fussing in Füssen is not allowed,
for if it were there’d be too big a crowd
of bitchers and moaners and grumpy old groaners,
so fussing in Füssen is not allowed.

My question ‘what does emotional mastery look like?’ is rhetorical, and asked to generate discussion. I am interested to know how others view it. Thank you for responding.

Gary