Do they really? show them something foreign or a new technology and ask them how they feel, you will see how in control of their emotions they really are.
Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
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Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#42> When older people say, “This is the best time of your life, enjoy it while you can,” that’s a form of abuse. I guess that these days anything can be called "abuse".
I wish I could say that to my younger self
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#43At age 20 or so, I read a quote in a book (on day trading, IIRC) that went something like: "Master your emotions, or they will master you." After thinking about it, I realized that despite identifying as a logical-thinking individual, I was nevertheless at the mercy of the more primitive parts of my brain. Sometimes totally, but pretty much all executive functions were influenced by it to a large degree. That might b…
Imo there's a strong tendency for people working in tech/business or with high ambition in general to suppress their emotions as they affect the decision making. However, I'd rather make suboptimal decisions if that means a richer life, deeper connections and a stronger sense of wonder. Trying to be as logical, rational as possible makes life dull and mechanical. In the end as Kierkegaard said, "Life is not a problem…
Some might say that the true sense of beauty and wonder cones from doing how similar those two opposite ends of the spectrum actually can be
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#44Natural selection. At a young age, some people know how to control their feelings, others don't. The ones who can't then die from road rage or similar, leaving only the ones with at least a modicum of self control in the older age groups.
Basically, it's survivor bias, but literally.
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#45At age 20 or so, I read a quote in a book (on day trading, IIRC) that went something like: "Master your emotions, or they will master you." After thinking about it, I realized that despite identifying as a logical-thinking individual, I was nevertheless at the mercy of the more primitive parts of my brain. Sometimes totally, but pretty much all executive functions were influenced by it to a large degree. That might b…
Yes. An easy observation to make when the highly rational and logical person in the room gets angry. Particularly when they're angered by others non-rationality. As if being angry is a rational response or a useful one.
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#46I think it is survivorship bias, those who couldn't control their feelings were more likely self-destruct through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms.
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#47Personally I just don't give a shit. I still get upset the same way as I did decades ago, but it's just not worth my time and energy to get all up in arms about most things that are upsetting to me.
On most things I either know nothing I will do or say will make a positive impact, or I know the issue will take care of itself or someone else is taking care of it, just not right at this very moment. So why bother. I have better things to do with my life. Like lie down on my couch and binge watch Golden Girls.
I make an exception on things endangering the well being of my wife and kids.
Older and wiser? Or older and lazier?
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#48> When older people say, “This is the best time of your life, enjoy it while you can,” that’s a form of abuse. I guess that these days anything can be called "abuse".
I realise that a lot of people have anxiety issues, but to call it abuse is just stupid. They are genuinely people looking back on their life experience and giving advice.
I wouldn't call this abuse either but there is a huge huge gulf between "that was the best time of my life" and "this is the best time of your life.
It's at best just extremely rude to tell someone about their own life and how they should feel about it.
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#49My entirely unscientific theory is that like other cells, we're born with a limited number of fucks in our body. When we're young, we (instinctively, subconsciously) feel like our fucks reserves are plentiful, so we give a fuck about a lot of stuff. As we get older, our reservoir of fucks gets progressively depleted. The fucks are rarer, so we give a fuck less and less often. I've recently turned 40 and I can definit…
I think what you're describing is more down to desensitisation through exposure to stressful environments. When you're younger smaller problems seem larger because you've not been desensitised to larger problems. As you progress through life you generally experience greater stress and thus the smaller problems feel smaller. You could look at it like desensitisation to capsicum, salt, violence or pornography.
That's preposterous! I'm sticking to my "fucks are finite and biologically limited" theory. I'll use the TED talk to promote my upcoming self-help book around this mind-blowing new theory.
Re: Why do older individuals have greater control of their feelings?
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
Imo there's a strong tendency for people working in tech/business or with high ambition in general to suppress their emotions as they affect the decision making. However, I'd rather make suboptimal decisions if that means a richer life, deeper connections and a stronger sense of wonder. Trying to be as logical, rational as possible makes life dull and mechanical. In the end as Kierkegaard said, "Life is not a problem…
Some might say that the true sense of beauty and wonder cones from doing how similar those two opposite ends of the spectrum actually can be
Who might say that and what would we have to do for them to commit to it?
Are you saying it? Because I don't think it's true at all! But I want to wait until someone actually say it before I get into that.