Ataraxia or mental imperturbability is a desirable state of being for some people (such as Micheu). The merits of not being unduly moved by things that happen to you are questionable, but I can understand the motivating factors.
Earth shattering experiences can rob one of a sense of self. ‘Being a slave to your passions’ expresses the undesirability of losing control of cognitive faculties. That argument suggests that the cognitive is absent from the self at times that are emotionally charged. My preferred imagery is of the self being steered by an emotional rudder that plays a part in judgement calls.
In other words, it is not an either/or situation whereby ‘love conquers all’, but that the ability to decide on a course of action (or inaction) is tempered by an emotional weighting element. The way our minds work is still mysterious, but we are getting a handle on the mechanics of brain function and observed behaviour. The marshmallow experiment with young children is a classic from the 60s that showed youngsters struggling with the prospect of delayed gratification. One marshmallow now, or two if you wait a couple of minutes. For some it was no contest, grab the food in front of you; for others, although they squirmed a bit, they waited until they were rewarded with two marshmallows.
odespinner 
One response to “Passion – not just a rainy day in Ballymena”
I’m gonna try the marshmallow test on the twins…. try it in you with pint (s) of Guinness.