“Cool as a cucumber” is a phrase used to describe a frame of mind that often is considered helpful in business. Or in negotiations of any kind. Actually, I don’t agree altogether. The short version: I like humans better than cucumbers….
The longer version: It’s been proven by scientists that it is really impossible to ‘separate’ human beings from their emotions. That is, our emotions are always part of our daily existence, even when there’s no passion involved and so they might be ‘staying’ (and feeling…) ‘low’. Undetermined.
Daniel Goleman, a psychologist, science author and journalist in 1995 first published his book on the subject, “EQ – Emotional Intelligence” that also was a New York Times bestseller for a year.
He makes it quite clear that when you try to decide for example, your emotions on the matter are crucial: Due to brain research, and actual brain surgery results it has turned out that without emotions we are unable to decide. Certain parts of the brain being removed and thus unable to feel, people will retain their knowledge, their skills, but become unable to decide…
Emotions are the central part of human life.
There’s a fine old story these days considered to be for children, a so-called poet’s fairy story, “The Cold Heart“, by Wilhelm Hauff. It is about a young charcoal maker, Peter, who wishes to become rich and respected. Two fairy creatures in their way help him along. On the way one asks him to relinquish his heart as payment for riches provided.
Peter asks if taking his heart out of his body wouldn’t be harmful, or actually kill him. The wizard tells him not to worry since he as a magic being would be able to do it without harming his body in any way. Afterwards he would be free of that annoying something in his breast always starting to beat at odd times…
Eventually the young fellow awakes and finds himself rich, richer than anyone around for many miles. He travels, enjoys life being respected by many, eventually marries a beautiful young woman.
But whatever he does, there’s no joy in it. There’s no sorrow either, no regrets. Nothing, just a sort of emptiness.
The story has a happy ending.
At the same time it is a fine tale about human life and the most important aspects in it.
And it makes clear in so many words, written even as early as the 19th century, how central our emotions are to our life:
A warm ‘heart’. That’s why I prefer humans to cucumbers… ◕‿↼)