Comprehension and Control

I have a principled belief that productive debate about issues frequently involves comprehension of others' emotions, and the expression (and comprehension) of ones own emotions.

It occurs to me that comprehension of ones own emotions is not usually incompatible with control of ones own emotions.

This contrast between comprehending an emotion and being unable to control it interests me. In particular, a failure mode of rationalism is eshewing the expression and comprehension of emotion while utterly failing at the control of emotion. This is the precise reverse of the ideal state, I think.

But it deserves to be noted, with different emphasis, that comprehension of ones own emotions is not usually incompatible with control of ones own emotions. Sometimes it is. Sometimes letting go of control is the only way to fully understand how you feel and why you feel that way. And sometimes there are very real and pointed rational arguments buried in those emotions, which can only be uncovered by allowing the emotion to be felt in an unfettered way.