Peace

I have the brain of a scientist and the heart of an artist, and bringing these two to harmony may be the story of my life.

The song of my life becomes dischordant and unseemly when either element disregards the other.

(The song, by the way, is in B minor.)

Thus I deal in certain realms, where only the heart can lead one, and I trust it, but never at the cost of my mind.  I have no desire to be free from my mind, but rather, free through it, in it, with it.

Right now, I wonder if it would be more precise to discuss my amygdala and frontal cortex rather than my 'heart' and 'mind.'

But never mind.  Or always mind.

What I want to write here are some axioms.  We all live with certain axioms, whether we recognize them as such or not, and I think getting to know one's own axioms is a helpful exercise in the attempt to create a beautiful life.  Like knowing one's métier, if you like.

The axioms I've been focused on lately center around love and fear.

So here, in a format my scientific mind can understand, are the truths my heart knows:

1.  Love and fear are the two most powerful forces in the world. 

2.  Fear can be used to control people; fear can stop someone from being bad, but never make someone be good.  Inspiring goodness requires love.

3.  Love is volatile.  It transforms quite easily into fear of losing.  But these two forces are very different, and their actions opposed to one another.  One should be careful to avoid confusing the two.

A theory I have:

Of these two, the greatest forces in the world, love is the greater.  

Honestly, I'm not yet certain. It's a feeling I have, and based on my experience thus far, all evidence points to its truth.  Fear limits and restrains, but love imbues people with the strength to overcome that which oppresses.