There is a very common practice that creates a lot of senseless problems for good people everywhere. It involves two E’s… Emotions and Extrapolation. Extrapolation is the continuation on a trajectory. For example, if the temperature drops 5 degrees in one hour, by extrapolation you would think that in 24 hours we would all be freezing.
Combine an emotional response with extrapolation and you build things up in your mind and emotions, creating terrible fantasy worlds for yourself that have essentially nothing to do with reality. You get terribly troubled over small insignificant things that through extrapolation inflate to become the source of huge upsetting conflicts, traumas, hurts, angers, etc. etc.
A word to the wise, you take a HUGE step forward in your relationship with yourself, with people and with all of life when you can catch yourself before you get hooked by the Double E. Watch for the Double E and you will be amazed to see how often it overtakes good people everywhere.
wow!!! I can definitely relate to this!! When I first became aware of myself doing it, I could look at it “after the fact”. Now, I see a shift being made, and I can stop myself sometimes. It is so easy to get caught up in! I probably even look like the drawing when I get stuck in Double E Mode!
So much more work to do….
So right on!
Allowing for the self correcting mechanism to come into play, perhaps?
I love how you clarify dynamics that we all have.
Love the artwork:) I can get into a horror mode pretty quickly, especially if I hear the “news.” When I catch myself, I can see it’s not the truth right here and now… all mental stuff. This mind sure loves entertainment, ARRGH!
Wow! The idea of extrapolation is a new one for me and so applicable. Just did it last night. It’ll be interesting to watch myself with this new understanding.
I own a salon…I have 40 employees..they are all female..the ages range from 19 to 54..this is very helpful!!:)
Thank you Brahmarshi..have a truly wonderful day
Marianne,
It is good to hear from you. Yes indeed. As is said, ‘The light of awareness heals’. Seeing where one is going astray is a big step forward in the direction of not going that way!
Shedding light on The Double E will help people naturally take a step back, take a deep breath, and come into balance more readily.
Naming this so common practice is great. I see it everywhere with media making the most of it. “Be afraid! Call the cops because some kids are without parents on the swing set!”
It will be another useful tool to use for myself- asking the question, “Am I extrapolating this upset into something totally unwarranted and unlikely?” Excellent.
The 2 E’s are so pervasive and powerful.
But fortunately, awareness of the mechanism pops the balloon of turbulence they create.
Thank you for such an insightful clear explanation of what was going on all around me that I had not fully understood.
It amazes me how often I open my internet browser and read exactly what I need to on my home page . . . Thank you Michaelji, Brahmarshi.
Such a helpful angle to understand this dynamic… just naming it brings to light how incredibly common it is–Yikes! Would you say this is the cause of most of our stress… I.E. most of our karma is exacerbated by this dynamic?
Thank you,
Joy Anna
It just occurred to me that the “news” thrives on the Double Es.
I definitely needed to read this, and need to practice this. Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you Michaelji:
What a great blog and a great boon!!! So helpful and so timely. Just last evening I was saying to myself…..notice how blah blah may not necessarily mean or have anything to do with what you are thinking and feeling…..but I didn’t quite know what to do with it all!! Awareness, awareness, awareness!!! Thanks for the lift!!
Great drawing!!!
BTW, I love reading the comments these days. They feel much more participatory in that they share how the blogs affect their lives in brief detail…..such that all of humanity can see the “humanity” in what we are about!!!. Bravo!!
Yvonne,
I too love the comments and look forward to reading them after each blog is posted. People are encouraged to comment and free to use a fictitious name if they so choose. Not only do the comments enrich the blogs, but they also [according to our webmaster Doug] help the website. So by commenting, or clicking ‘like’ you are helping.
What I really love is the WORD extrapolation! It has now become a magic tool. Once I hear myself going in that direction, I just say EXTRAPOLATION! and I immediately stop. I smile and see how ridiculous the mind can be.
I didn’t know there is a word for this mental behavior. Like Marlene said, I can step on the break a little better now by saying “EXTRAPOLATION!!!” to my self. Thank you Maharshi.