It is in the deepest moments of emotion when we begin to identify the real truth about ourselves. Have you ever pondered about what emotion is? Why we have emotion? Maybe at times you wonder how to deal with, or overcome a specific negative emotion: fear, disgust, jealousy, anger, resentment, and so on. Today, I wanted to speak on these questions, and hone in on the way in which all us humans can use emotion, specifically negative emotion, as a functional aspect towards our well being. That being said, I want to clarify to you all that we each have our own unique experiences with negative emotions, and have very different ways in which we choose to cope with them. My thoughts and ideas are up for discussion, and I am completely open to commentary and altering viewpoints.
In a discussion I recently attended, my professor spoke on two approaches to emotion stemming from the Ancient Greeks. Many of you are familiar with Plato and Aristotle. Not only were they major intellectual figures of western philosophy and science, but they also grasped highly dominant views on the psychology of emotion that influenced much of the nineteenth century. Plato introduced the Dualist approach, consisting of two aspects: the ethereal soul and the earthly body. The ethereal soul is known as the emotional self, portraying uncontrollable or excessive emotion, verses the earthly body depicts the rational self, or the reasoned self. While this approach was dominant, many individuals felt as if one should suppress emotion and promote rationality, leaving many to rid of their internal states of negative emotion. This reminded me a lot of times in conflict, whether it was a fight with a family member, best friend, or significant other.
The feeling of wanting to rid of anger, sadness, frustration, fear, and anxiety. Conflict can make one run from negative emotion, or become fearful of it. Usually the end of a friendship or relationship is the result of such because many do not want to deal with negative emotion, we do not want to pay attention to an internal state that makes us feel poorly, that gets us to a point of distress. We want to protect ourselves from negative emotions, and that is exactly what we hope for in rationality or reasoning. Breaking off a friendship, we go back and forth in our minds daily, feeling still connected to that friendship, loving that person in the friendship, and then rationalizing to suppress the negative emotions: ignore them, block them out, not think about them, and move on. The interesting thing here is that most of the time when you tell yourself not to think of something or someone, you are already doing so.
Unlike Plato's Dualist approach, Aristotle came up with one that I personally resonate with: the Functionalist approach. Here negative emotion was depicted as providing a purpose. From an evolutionary perspective, why would we still have negative emotions, if they did not serve us some benefit? Negative emotion helps us survive. For instance, when defining anger as a function we see it as "reaching out for retaliation." That feeling of our heart racing, blood pressure going up, feeling tense, and then releasing it. What is the point of anger? Why should we feel it? Anger gives us the capacity to do something that we may have never decided to do. It allows us to have a voice and speak up against injustices. It provides us with the ability to stand our ground. Yes, much would rather feel exuberance, delight, and excitement, as these elicit a positive emotional and physiological response. However, without the feelings of negative emotion like anger, sadness, and fear, how could real change be made in society? How could we empathize with others? Would communication be at all the same? Each emotion is its own internal experience that evokes a unique physiological response and function. It makes us human.
Negative emotions deserve our attention. Effortful attention. Listen. Feel. Heal. #mindovermoment
I will leave this notion up for your thoughts, it is an excerpt from The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. At times I have felt like a cactus when trying to cope with negative emotions, and this read made me feel okay with that.
“If God would choose a plant to represent Him, I think He would choose of all plants the cactus. The cactus has all the blessings he tried, but mostly failed, to give to man. It has humility, but it is not submissive. It grows where no other plant will grow. It does not complain when the sun bakes it or the wind tears it from the cliff or drowns it in the dry sand of the desert or when it is thirsty.When the rain comes it stores water for the hard times to come. In good times and in bad it will still flower. It protects itself against danger, but it harasses no other plant. It adapts perfectly to almost any environment. It has patience and enjoys solitude.The cactus has properties that heal the wounds of men and from it comes potions that can make man touch the face of God or stare into the mouth of hell. It is the plant of patience and solitude, love and madness, ugliness and beauty, toughness and gentleness.”
