(This article is a follow-up from the ones published in previous weeks, episodes 0, 1, 2, 3 4, 5 and 6, and more episodes will be published in the upcoming weeks)
Throughout the day, our phone sends us notifications about multiple things, displaying alerts and reminders in the form of text messages. Sometimes we can choose to enable or disable certain notifications, for example, from email services or social media platforms, but others are unavoidable as they are related to the device itself, like when the battery is about to run out, or the Wi-Fi connection is lost; also, once every few months, it tells us that the operating system needs to be updated.
The human body also has an inbuilt notifications system that's highly effective and sophisticated: the emotions..
- Emotions are produced as a reaction to a stimulus, which can be real, imagined or remembered.
- They have a physiological component: our body gets activated in a particular way that's different for each emotion.
- They also have a cognitive component: our brain interprets the signals it receives from the body in order to make sense of the experience.
Some emotions are learned or have a cultural component, but a handful of them have been recognized as universal: those emotions are shared by all human beings, and all of us can identify the facial expressions that go with them.
Each emotion brings us a message; it comes to tell us something about what's happening at a particular moment, and if we know how to listen, that message can give us very valuable information.
Emotions can be really intense, but their duration is actually short, approximately ninety seconds. The problem comes when we get "stuck" in an emotion, going over it again and again in our heads, because those repetitive thoughts keep re-triggering the emotion in a vicious circle. That's how we generate a specific mood or state of mind, which is less intense than an emotion but lasts longer and has less defined beginning and end moments.
So, what can we do to avoid getting stuck? We can embrace that emotion as it appears, and allow ourselves to feel it. We can let it pass right through us, staying present, without trying to avoid it or run away from it. That will allow us to acknowledge it, recognize it, give it a name, and listen to the message it brings. Because once the message has been delivered, the emotion has accomplished its mission and can leave. And we can let it go, using the information received to make a decision and act accordingly.
Joy
- What is it telling me? – Something pleasant has happened, or I have achieved a goal.
- What for? – To enjoy it!
- Also... – My smiling face conveys friendliness: "I'm not a threat to you".
Surprise
- What is it telling me? – There's something new, sudden and unexpected.
- What for? – To focus my attention.
- Also... – My eyes open wide so that I can investigate that new thing that has just appeared.
Fear
- What is it telling me? – There's a danger that threatens my safety.
- What for? – To avoid or mitigate the damage.
- Also... – My senses sharpen, and my body prepares to protect me from danger.
Anger
- What is it telling me? – There's an obstacle in my way, or a boundary that's important to me has been trespassed.
- What for? – To remove the obstacle or defend my boundaries.
- Also... – My body prepares to attack.
Sadness
- What is it telling me? – I lost something valuable or have an unmet need.
- What for? – To look for help or take some time to recover.
- Also... – My emotional pain can also trigger some physical pain.
Disgust
- What is it telling me? – There's a potentially toxic substance or situation.
- What for? – To avoid contamination.
- Also... – Feeling repugnance makes me avoid things that are not good for me.
Which of these notifications do you receive more often? And what do you do when you notice them? If you´re interested in this topic, here´s another article about emotions that I wrote some time ago.
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