Preventing Excessive Joy Leading to Sorrow
Preventing Excessive Joy Leading to Sorrow
The novel *The Scholars* depicts Fan Jin, a poor scholar who failed exams repeatedly. Upon suddenly learning he passed the imperial examination, he became so ecstatic he went mad. This story reflects scientific truth: extreme joy can turn into sorrow—commonly known as “joy turning to sorrow.” It also illustrates how “joy” can be regulated by “grief.” Thus, when experiencing extraordinary happiness, one must learn to regulate emotions and maintain mental balance. Using grief to moderate joy is a method based on the *Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon*’s theory of the Five Elements overcoming each other. Application must be flexible, not mechanical, adapting to real situations with practical strategies. Another anecdote records a case where “fear overcomes joy”: A patient suffered from uncontrollable laughter due to excessive joy. A doctor named Zhu treated him, then suddenly cried out, “Oh no!” and pretended to leave to fetch medicine. The patient waited days without seeing him again, fearing his condition was hopeless, and began weeping bitterly, even preparing his will. Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhu realized the patient was nearly cured and returned to comfort him. Indeed, the patient soon recovered. Clearly, emotionally targeted interventions can surpass the effects of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Using emotional counterbalance to regulate excessive joy is indeed effective. Yet, even better is strengthening spiritual cultivation, self-controlling emotions at every moment, keeping the seven emotions perpetually balanced and harmonious—this is the fundamental way to restrain joy. As recorded in *Huainanzi*: “Calm spirit and peaceful mind bring peace to all joints—the root of nurturing life.” Humans possess reason; by cultivating awareness daily, viewing matters dialectically, correctly understanding oneself, accurately assessing one’s abilities, avoiding arrogance, remaining humble, always recognizing one’s shortcomings, and practicing self-discipline, one can consciously adjust thoughts and behaviors. One should not rejoice over fleeting moments or become complacent upon success and honor, always maintaining humility. Only then can one truly purposefully and consciously control emotions, becoming the master of one’s feelings rather than being driven by negative emotions, thus forever preserving a calm and joyful state—this is the ultimate method of emotional regulation.
The best approach is tranquility: keep the word “stillness” in mind at all times, free from distractions. No matter how big the event, it feels nonexistent in the mind. As the *Inner Canon* says: “When the mind is tranquil, the body’s defenses close tightly; even strong winds and toxic influences cannot harm.” That is, a serene mind gathers true qi without dispersion, making the body resilient against powerful pathogens. If one achieves the state described in *Suwen·Shanggu Yuanzhen*: “Peaceful aspirations, few desires, a calm heart without fear, physical labor without fatigue, qi flows smoothly, each desire fulfilled, all wishes granted,” one may live beyond a hundred years without losing vitality. With a clear conscience and few desires, the spirit naturally remains stable, and true qi is preserved. While reaching such a state is difficult, starting with emotional counterbalance and progressing to self-control can gradually lead to the tranquil state of health preservation.