A theory exists that there are really only two core emotions – love and fear. According to the theory, all other human emotions stem from one of these two roots.
In the theory, love is identified as the root of all positive emotions. These include joy, compassion, peace, gratitude, trust, and basically anything that is motivated by love.
On the other side of the theory is fear, the root of all negative emotions. These include anger, jealousy, anxiety, shame, hate, ego, and victimhood. I admit, I had to think about this one for a few moments, but I finally realized when I’m angry about something or when I hate something, it’s because deep down I fear it or at least some aspect of it.
I find the Love/Fear Theory quite simplistic, but yet so applicable. You can easily fit any kind of emotion into one of these two.
I began to wonder how this theory applies to Myasthenia Gravis. It was a rather eye-opening experience. I discovered I literally viewed everything regarding MG through either a love or fear filter. I found myself embracing the love aspects and using them to help me survive, while finding the fear aspects deplorable and realizing I do not care to live there. Ever.
It’s so easy to fear Myasthenia Gravis. After all, we don’t know how it will progress or what the future holds. Its snowflake symptoms embarrass us. Daily chores become more difficult. We’re unable to do things we once did with ease. I could go on and on.
On the other hand, it’s so difficult to love Myasthenia Gravis. What’s there to love? It contorts our bodies, it makes life more difficult, it changes us in ways with which we don’t agree. For me at least, it has made me look inward. MG made me realize my worth doesn’t depend on what I can’t do or how funny MG makes me look. It made me look deeper inside and realize how much love I have that I can still share with others. MG can’t take that from me.
When I allow the negative emotion of fear to take over, I become its victim. I wallow in self-pity. I struggle physically and emotionally. I lose the will to fight. I’m miserable.
When I choose to allow the positive emotion of love to take over, I become a warrior. I find strength. I regain my smile. I choose to value others. Life is not only worth living; life is good.
I discovered how quickly each emotion can erase the other. I also realized that it’s me who chooses which emotion will win. When I choose fear, I allow MG to take control. I become its victim. I begin to resent MG and ultimately, everything involved in life. It’s a miserable place to be. When I choose love, to see things from a positive perspective, there’s very little I cannot do. I have Myasthenia Gravis, but it doesn’t have me. I’m in control.
That got me wondering. How does a person fight being swallowed by fear? They do so by changing their perspective. I may have to modify my daily routines, but I love the fact that I’m still functioning. I may not be able to run enough to keep up with my grandson, but I still enjoy playing with him. I may not be able to eat a whole steak at dinner, but that means I get to enjoy the other half tomorrow. I may wake up with aches and pains, but I’m still waking up.
Choosing to love is within my ability and it prevents me from allowing fear to take over. That doesn’t mean I don’t have fear; it just means I recognize it for what it is and choose to live a life filled with love, gratitude and appreciation. Fear doesn’t maintain a hold on me when I choose to let love take over.
Choose love. Your life will immediately change and change immensely.