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 frustration¹ 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, ethics², and the sustainability of our planet—our emotional states impact our likelihood to act. From fear to love, a cocktail³ 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 agitated⁴, 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 decided⁵ 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。

　　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.jpg

　　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 discomfort⁶ of being frustrated⁷ or angry, we put ourselves in a dangerous position of inaction. If you let your mind say that everything will be okay, tune⁸ 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 physiological⁹ 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 stimuli¹⁰ 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。

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

3 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

4 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

7 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

9 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

10 stimuli   

n.刺激（物）

参考例句：

• It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
• My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。