(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? – De algo agradable y placentero, de haber alcanzado una meta.
- What for? – ¡Para disfrutarlo!
- Además… – Mi cara sonriente muestra cordialidad, transmite a los demás: «no soy una amenaza para ti».
Surprise
- What is it telling me? – De algo nuevo, repentino e inesperado.
- What for? – Para centrar la atención.
- Además… – Los ojos se me abren mucho para poder fijarme bien, e investigar eso nuevo que acaba de aparecer.
Fear
- What is it telling me? – De un peligro que amenaza mi seguridad.
- What for? – Para evitar o mitigar el daño.
- Además… – Mis sentidos se agudizan, y mi organismo se prepara para protegerse del peligro.
Anger
- What is it telling me? – De un obstáculo que se interpone, o de que se ha transgredido un límite que es importante para mí.
- What for? – Para apartar el obstáculo o defender mis límites.
- Además… – Me preparo para atacar.
Sadness
- What is it telling me? – De la pérdida de algo valioso, o de una necesidad no cubierta.
- What for? – Para buscar ayuda, o tomarme un tiempo para recuperarme.
- Además… – Mi dolor emocional puede ir acompañado de dolor físico.
Disgust
- What is it telling me? – De una sustancia o situación potencialmente nociva.
- What for? – Para evitar contaminarme.
- Además… – La sensación de repugnancia hace que evite aquello que no es bueno para mí.
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.