我们的大脑希望我们保持冷静,但做些改变吧,我们需要愤怒

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.

这些日子以来，很多人都在思考对世界做出改变是件多么美好的事情。有些人可能会觉得最好不去理睬愤怒和恐惧等情感，而应该专注于采取行动。但科学表明接受自己的沮丧可产生更好的影响。

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.

每当谈论到关键话题——我们这一代复杂而又重要的问题——地球的道德、权利、公正、伦理和可持续性等问题时——我们的情感状态也会影响我们的行为。从恐惧到爱情，一杯由神经化学制成的鸡尾酒既会刺激我们的大脑和身体，也会使我们的大脑和身体瘫痪。有时候，不追波逐流，去接受自己的沮丧才是改变世界所需要的。

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.

人体总是希望能处于它们所期望的平衡状态。当你愤怒或生气时，你的大脑想要平定头脑中的高亢状态。这就是说你更有动力去做出一些改变，以达到平衡状态。但当你感觉一切都正常时，你就没有动力去采取行动了。你的大脑已决定你的状态良好，所以你就能继续寻欢作乐，去避开那些你不喜欢的东西。

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.

我们的作为或不作为会帮助决定世界的方向。如果我们快速接受一种新的常态化状态，以避免沮丧或愤怒带来的不适，那这样会使我们自己陷入不作为的危险状态。如果你放任大脑发射出一切都将会好的信号，调整自己回到放松的状态中，那么这个世界永远都不会发生变化。

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).

有两种生理状态会管理这种模式。第一种是应激反应“要么战斗要么等死”，这是由于人们感知到了危险后才会有的状态。当扁桃体对刺激物做出反应后，会基于从海马体中召回的记忆做出决定。