Emotions

Emotions Are Important. Our emotions are a critical source of
information. Our emotions are necessary for us to make decisions.
Studies show that when a person has an accident in which those
structures of the brain that deal with emotions is damaged the person
cannot make even simple decisions. Why? Because the person has lost
the capability to feel and thus, evaluate their decision. Social
Neuroscience has demonstrated cognition requires emotion in order to
complete the transaction of the decision-making process. Without
emotion, cognition remains incomplete and unfulfilled.

Our Bodies Talk. Our emotions help us communicate with others. Our
facial expressions, for example, can convey a wide range of emotions.
If we look sad or hurt, we are letting the other person know that we
need their help. If we are verbally skilled we will be able to express
more of our emotional needs and thereby have a better chance of
filling them. If we are good at listening to the emotional needs of
others, we are better able to help them feel understood, important,
and cared about. The emotionally intelligent person is able to read,
with some accuracy, the feelings conveyed non-verbally by those with
whom he or she interacts.

Stress Reduces Our Ability to Feel. As our society has become more
pressured and we are constantly overwhelmed by stress, our ability to
recognize and respond to our own feelings and those of others is
diminished. Overwhelming feelings of stress result in a reduced
ability to manage intense feelings and an increase in stress-related
disorders. Consequently, there is an increase in road rage, desk rage,
air rage, voice-mail rage, verbal and physical aggression, violence
against others, substance abuse, and other inappropriate displays of
anger.

Emotions Bring People Together. Our emotions are perhaps the greatest
potential source of uniting all members of the human race. This is
what makes us human and creates the potential for our humanity.
Clearly, our various religious, cultural and political institutions
have not united us. Far too often, in fact, they have even divided us.
Emotions, on the other hand, are universal.

Emotions are Universal. The emotions of…

• Empathy - The ability to understand and share someone else’s
feelings.

• Compassion - The ability to care about and give to someone else.

• Cooperation - The ability to work together to achieve a common
goal.

• Forgiveness - The ability to pardon someone for a grievance against
you or against someone one or something you care about.

All of these emotions have the potential to unite us as people. Our
thoughts may tend to divide us, whereas our emotions, if given the
chance, will unite us in our humanity.

Tom Wentz, Ph.D., CAMF
Faculty, Anderson & Anderson®
Trusted Name in Anger Management