The Heart vs. Brain Battle

Dear Heart,

You have been bestowed with the gift of automaticity. Kindly remember, you have no right of autonomy. Don't decide upon matters without my consent and get into deep trouble.

Take care,

Brain.

Dear Brain,

You may have control over every other dumb things out there but not on me. You keep thinking too much and too long and you keep judging everyone. Life is just too short and I cannot be waiting for your order that keeps delaying as doubts keep flooding you. Life is all about do or die. Life is about being daring. Life is about keeping hopes high. Haven't you heard of "matters of the heart"? So kindly leave them to me.

Beating for you,

Heart.

Dear Heart,

Don't be too stupid. There's no way of staying away from judging people. You do it all the time. You judge people to be too good and get hopelessly hurt every time. Don't ever question of my authority, you bloody fool. When you are sick and can beat no more, people will throw you away and replace you. But if I am gone, you'll start rotting right away! Last time you made a rash decision and you put us all in deep trouble. You kept pounding so hard and left me no time to think. You almost broke the rib cage. And then you get badly hurt and go fluttering like a flag. You've gone too frail to do any more leaps. Everything you do is almost mindless, because you fail to get counsel from me. Stop taking us on roller coaster rides and bring no more devastation upon us.

Get lost,

Brain

Brain,

Go to hell.

- Heart

Respected members of my body,

This is to notify you of a mutiny that has broken out amongst us. Hereby, I command you not to take orders from the heart. He has become too autonomous. He keeps taking rash decisions and hopes too high. Remember the last time he got hurt and left some of you bleeding, crying and groaning and in lots of pain? Remember how we were sleepless and burnt ourselves mourning along with that fool. So, from now on, wait for my order. I may tarry a bit, but I shall weigh the risks and benefits fairly in the light of all the experiences gained. I shall also act in accordance with the advice of those aged brains with more experience & wisdom. I am not saying that I would defer from taking up challenges, that I shall not love or hope etc. No. I shall do them diligently. I shall also plan for rescue measures beforehand if one of our steps had to fail, so that we can bounce back and not be knocked out, cold & hurt. I expect your full cooperation.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Brain.

P.S. Dear stomach, butterflies can’t enter you. Please stop bothering me with that. It’s just a silly trick that the heart plays on you. And dear eyes, don’t lose control and follow that girl the moment you see her. Last time you did and the forehead hit a lamp post. He’s been complaining all day to me. Behave yourselves.

[This is just a funny take on the heart-brain battle. There is no imitation or mockery of anyone's personal matters. Any references to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.]

Read more on Synaptic Sparks: The Ethics of Love

The Ethics of Love

This post is a part of my "Getting Trained for Marriage" post. I try to learn the principles of a good relationship through whatever I observe. Being a post graduate medico in Pharmacology, I was talking a class on ethics for some students. This post is a result of post-class effect (musings).

How would you react when your doctor performed an appendectomy on you and charged you when there was no actual need?

How would you react when your personal information was shared to others without your knowledge by your doctor?

Unethical aren’t they??

How would a girl react when she finds after her marriage that her husband had been a chronic smoker and has actually cheated her? (If love was true, he should have stopped smoking for his love instead of trying to cheat)

All is fair in love & marriage, they say. Is is so? Are thousand lies acceptable for establishing a lifelong relationship in marriage?

If your answer to the above questions is “yes”, just imagine yourself to be on the wronged side for a moment!!

There are certain ethical principles which every medical professional is supposed to follow. I find that these provide certain principles on how we should treat our most loved one as well. Well, isn’t this relationship more important than the doc-patient relationship!!

The Principle of Autonomy

You love a person. You propose. But you are left with a rejected proposal and a broken heart. What do you do?? Find out the reason behind the rejection. Explain your love more clearly. Show your love in action to him/her without offending the other person. Give time for the emotions of love to take root in the other heart. NEVER FORCE or ATTEMPT TO FORCE. Love never buds by force. It rather would die.

If it still doesn't work out, move away gracefully.

And just because you are united together in marriage, never force decisions or orders on your spouse. Appreciate individuality and foster autonomy.

The Principle of Beneficence/ No Harm

Ask yourself.

“What’s the purpose of this love?”

“Is your love a means by which you serve your own interest?”

Many people get this thing totally wrong. The major reason why young people seek out for relationships while at their college is peer pressure. Their main aim to show others they too have a girl/guy with them.

You are to love someone to make him/her happy. It is to sacrifice everything of yours to benefit the other. As I put in my words, “True love is like a tumour that arises in the heart And permeates your soul until you lose yourself selflessly for the other”
If you love someone for your happiness, to satisfy your ego or lust then you’re merely using them. And it equates to harming them.

But then, do you loose yourself because of love ! No ! I don't think so. But rather, in mutually trying to seek for the best of the other, a richer and fulfilling relationship will form! I hope.

The Principle of Justice & Equality

You come home late but you get angry at your partner when the meeting at her workplace took his/her time.

You rest all Sunday but you expect your partner to cook, to clean, to care the child etc..etc..

So many examples can be given in this regard.

Whatever privileges you’re allowed, your partner has them too.

Whatever law binds your partner, binds you as well.

The Principle of Confidentiality

Major relationship break ups occur because one of the members divulges information about the other to the outer world. And these social networking sites come handy in breaking relationships! Happens mostly by girls, though not exclusively. In their gossip hours, they let out certain personal info of their significant other.  This could start an unhealthy conversation about your significant other and may sow hatred in hearts. Unnecessary doubts and suspicions can be kept at bay if certain levels of confidentiality are maintained.

Have your principles right. Principles are the guiding posts to reach your purpose in life.

I do appreciate your comments as I go on with my "getting trained for my marriage" posts !