我們的大腦希望我們保持冷靜,但做些改變吧,我們需要憤怒

These days, a lot of people are thinking about how best to make a change in the world. Some might imagine that it’s best to try to rise above emotions like anger and fear and focus on taking action. But science suggests that embracing feelings of frustration can actually help you make an impact.

這些日子以來，很多人都在思考對世界做出改變是件多麼美好的事情。有些人可能會覺得最好不去理睬憤怒和恐懼等情感，而應該專注於採取行動。但科學表明接受自己的沮喪可產生更好的影響。

When it comes to critical conversations about the complex and important questions of our time—morality, rights, justice, ethics, and the sustainability of our planet—our emotional states impact our likelihood to act. From fear to love, a cocktail of neurochemicals both motivate and disable our bodies and minds. And sometimes, embracing frustration instead of going with the flow is what’s needed to make a change in the world.

每當談論到關鍵話題——我們這一代複雜而又重要的問題——地球的道德、權利、公正、倫理和可持續性等問題時——我們的情感狀態也會影響我們的行爲。從恐懼到愛情，一杯由神經化學制成的雞尾酒既會刺激我們的大腦和身體，也會使我們的大腦和身體癱瘓。有時候，不追波逐流，去接受自己的沮喪纔是改變世界所需要的。

Our bodies would always prefer to be in their desired state of homeostasis. When you’re angry or agitated, your brain wants to resolve the hyper-aroused state it’s in. This means you’re more likely to be motivated to do something to change that state and bring you back to homeostasis. But when you feel that everything is all right, you’re less likely to be motivated to take action. Your brain has already decided that conditions are good, so you can therefore go back to seeking out pleasure and avoiding things you don’t like.

人體總是希望能處於它們所期望的平衡狀態。當你憤怒或生氣時，你的大腦想要平定頭腦中的高亢狀態。這就是說你更有動力去做出一些改變，以達到平衡狀態。但當你感覺一切都正常時，你就沒有動力去採取行動了。你的大腦已決定你的狀態良好，所以你就能繼續尋歡作樂，去避開那些你不喜歡的東西。

Our actions or inaction help determine the direction the world takes. If we quickly accept a new normalized state of being in order to avoid the discomfort of being frustrated or angry, we put ourselves in a dangerous position of inaction. If you let your mind say that everything will be okay, tune out, and coast back to a relaxed state of mind, no change is ever going to come of the world.

我們的作爲或不作爲會幫助決定世界的方向。如果我們快速接受一種新的常態化狀態，以避免沮喪或憤怒帶來的不適，那這樣會使我們自己陷入不作爲的危險狀態。如果你放任大腦發射出一切都將會好的信號，調整自己回到放鬆的狀態中，那麼這個世界永遠都不會發生變化。

There are two physiological states of being that govern this pattern. The first is the stress response “fight, flight, or freeze,” which is triggered by a perceived danger. This happens when the amygdala (a critical part of our emotional response center) reacts to stimuli and decides what to do based on a memory it recalls from the hippocampus (which holds the slideshow of life’s experiences).

有兩種生理狀態會管理這種模式。第一種是應激反應“要麼戰鬥要麼等死”，這是由於人們感知到了危險後纔會有的狀態。當扁桃體對刺激物做出反應後，會基於從海馬體中召回的記憶做出決定。