Many of us were taught so very little about emotions. This is why I have been spending so many weeks writing about them both individually and collectively. Being willing to learn, explore and to be curious about things we don’t fully understand, is key to breaking limiting beliefs and ultimately tapping into our unlimited potential. Let’s discuss further good and bad emotions.

For a great deal of us we have an understanding of emotions that can only be seen through a very small window. We know which ones to yearn for and which ones to avoid, the “good” ones and the “bad” ones and that is pretty much the extent of our knowledge. Maybe, just maybe, you learned which ones others like or dislike and you know how to regulate them when you are around those people you know.

Giving Away All your Emotions?

If someone offered to take your emotions away, would you let them? Do you think that life would be so much easier if we looked at things logically and left emotions out of them?

I think a lot of people would jump at the chance to live without emotions, but only because of their limited understanding of them. If you only learned that anger is bad and happiness is the only one worth pursuing, it would make perfect sense to release them.

But, did you know that emotions play a key role in decision making? That they are intimately involved in our cognitive processes?

Decision Making with Emotions

Yep. We aren’t smarter without our emotions but rather we are less able to function independently, lose many of our interactional skills and often require assistance to care for and protect ourselves. No thank you. I like my independence, being able to carry on a conversations with others and the ability to care for and protect myself.

Without emotions and functioning with logic only, facts would just pile on top of each other. They would have no meaning or value. Emotions, in addition to so many other functions, are there to help us understand what is important and even more importantly, what isn’t. They also help us to recognize and respond empathically with the signals and needs of others. They help us to be motivated to be better and do better.

Emotions are so misunderstood and avoided. The black sheep of humanity if you will. Thinking about it, life without emotions looks gray to me. Bland. Meaningless. Robotic. Some would like us to live that way. We are easier to “control” in that state of mind.

What I Choose

Me, I choose to keep my emotions. They may be messy and irritating at times but they also bring color and meaning to life. Emotions are alive and moving. In addition, they keep us constantly growing and changing. Reaching for more.

I like that.