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emotions

Are emotions really a weakness?

Courtesy of @farah_massadeh

Why do we always contain our emotions? Why do we refuse to properly express ourselves regardless of the connotation represented?  From story books to movies, the protagonist is constantly encouraged to demise and ignore their emotions, but how does that make them stronger?

Emotions have been depicted as weaknesses for so long; the hero of the book is forbidden to cry, the prosaic character is ordinary because they are able to explore their emotions, even, the intrinsic advice that has been passed down stands within the lines of “crying is for the weak.” But is being true to yourself really considered a weakness?

The feelings we feel are identified as responses to different events that either occur internally; with you and your own self, or externally; between you as an individual and the environment around you. There are a handful of different emotions. Some we experience more often daily like feeling of enjoyment, fear, anger. Others not so much. Regardless of what the emotion an individual may be dealing with, society is constantly framing emotions to be signs of weakness. But is that really the case?

emotions
Courtesy of @farah_massadeh

Emotional expression stands for feeling an emotion, expressing it, and moving on. In order to move on with our lives it is intrinsic we understand the way we are feeling and why we feel that way. Emotions should not be identified as weakness. They offer us clarity, accentuate where we stand at the present, give us tenacity to our passions and beliefs and yet, they are portrayed as sinister and fragile. 

Emotions can be expressed through a wide range of methods. What you wear, how you act, the body language you set out all reflect the way you are feeling internally. I for instance am expressing my emotions at this instant. Emotions can be expressed in many ways. The way you express your emotions allows you to be differentiated from others, it makes you unique.

Emotional expression has been immemorially associated with sinister stigma demising the values of emotions and their importance. The archaic shame later the true definition of emotions gaslighting us to believe that emotions are trivial and are for the weak. The stigma was initiated with Greek philosophers who opted for stoicism claiming that, “Emotions have been characterised as very disruptive and as possibly leading to mental illness and the downside of this is that we can often be scared or cautious of expressing emotions and of acknowledging our own feelings.” Needless to say, the argument presented is dubious is many different ways.

emotions
Courtesy of Gabrielle Caunesil Pozzoli

Belonging to the 21st century, it is pivotal to observe the importance of emotions. Whether they are associated with negative, sordid memories or exulting experiences, emotions allow you to connect with your surroundings. They allow individuals to identify right from wrong, and most importantly live and appreciate the present.

In our world many jobs require emotional suppression, some of which involve, law, medical care, social work, and even some roles in media. However, does lacking emotions really contribute to the credibility of an individual? Wouldn’t their use of emotions demonstrate relatability and therefore improve communication? 

Showing your real raw feelings at the moment are an indictment of your true self. Omitting them away may inundate and confuse your own self. Regardless of what the situation may be identifying how the condition makes you feel and expressing it to let go is a sacrosanct skill that should be homogenised rather than accentuated as weaknesses or faults.

emotions
Courtesy of Emili Sindlev

Lately with the hurdles falling our way, it is needleless of accentuate the emotional rollercoaster we’ve all been riding. From highs to lows, laughs to cries, we’ve all experienced emotions in every form and certainly demising their value and classifying them as trivial did not ease this year in any way. Showing how you truly feel about a situation shouldn’t be seen as weakness. Instead, they should be seen strengths proving that you are strong enough to deal with the complex situation within you and offer yourself clarity.

Crying, does not portray how easily a person can hurt but, how they are able to let go of their sadness and move on. Saying “I love you” does not make an individual surrender to another instead, it is a sign that they are true to themselves and able to absolve the reality within them into the external environment surrounding them.