Life Is Measured In Emotions, Not In Hours
Life is measured in emotions and the moments in which intense psychophysiological reactions bring glimpses of genuine meaning to your entire existence. Joy, happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, longing. All emotions, whether positive or negative, define who we are, influence our actions, and make sense of everything we do.
Author and activist Helen Keller once said that the most beautiful things in this world can neither be seen nor touched because they are felt in the heart. It was something she knew all too well. As deaf and blind, she learned to experience and understand her reality through the latent and invisible forces that many of us overlook: sensations, connections, and emotions.
It is often said that we humans are social beings. Our brain is a rational organ – a lot of cells and interconnected tissues that create our thoughts, decisions and behaviors. However, the reality is that man is also a very emotional creature. Often, the language of emotions is the only thing the brain understands.
This ability makes us special, but also incredibly complex. Understanding life from this point of view can help us gain more control over it and enjoy it so much more intensely.
Life is measured in emotions: times of happiness, days of peace and moments of sadness
Emotions are the driving force in our lives in many different ways. These feelings affect the way we feel physically, with our heart racing away when we are in love, or we feel the lump in our stomach when we are stressed. At the same time, they affect the way we think and how we react in different situations.
Life is measured in emotions. They create the complexity that creates music in our lives. Understanding the importance of these psychophysiological responses is key to our well-being. It will have a greater impact on our happiness in the long run if we have a greater awareness and control over our emotions. Let’s take a closer look at that.
Our emotions tell us who we are and how our lives have affected us
Unfortunately, our lives are not only woven by the threads of happiness. In this cloth of our unique existence we also find colors of sorrow, loss and sadness. But it is in this intricate pattern of colors and contrasts where we find the true beauty and strength of life.
Every emotion has the power to define our history and the human being we become. Let’s take a closer look at an example. A severe fracture can leave a scar or wound that drains you of energy. This pain can become so unbearable that you may feel unable to enter into a new relationship.
While this view is not uncommon, other people choose to weave another emotional garment, consisting of resilience, strength, and the unshakable desire to live, feel, experiment, and dream. Life is measured in emotions, and although some are painful, this pain need not be the only thread in your existence.
Wellness is feeling the right feeling at the right time and knowing what to do with it
Les Greenberg is a Canadian psychologist who is known for being one of the creators of emotion-focused therapy (EFT). One of the things Greenberg tells us in his work, “Emotion-Focused Therapy,” is that people often feel lost when it comes to dealing with their emotions.
We oppress them, have a hard time putting them into words, and let them overwhelm us without thinking about the consequences.
Something we all need to understand is that well-being is about feeling the right emotions at the right time and knowing how those emotions need to be processed later on. But what does this really mean?
For example, it means that when someone insults you, you have the right to be angry. But this anger does not mean you have to react with violence. Instead, it must meet with self-awareness and wisdom.
It also means that it is ok to feel anger and frustration at times of great change and uncertainty. These feelings must be accepted and seen as something predictable and normal.
Life is measured in emotions: Never stop learning from them
Life is not measured in hours. It is measured in emotions, in split seconds of happiness, longing, hope, excitement and sadness. We are not only created by the experiences we have had, but by the emotions we have felt. That is what makes us all unique.
Everyone is defined by the fears one has overcome, the tears one has shed, forgotten regrets and dreams that take the form of success or happiness.
While it is true that we must all let certain things lie along the way, the path ahead of us opens up new possibilities and exciting adventures. After all, that’s what life’s about. To live each day to the fullest and feel every emotion in all its intensity.
